Depression Across the Reproductive Life Cycle: Correlations Between Events.
BACKGROUND: This study examines whether women who become depressed at one reproductive cycle event, e.g., postpartum, are likely to become depressed at other such events. METHOD: Seventy-two women in treatment for major depression were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing mood at 4 different reproductive cycle events, i.e., while premenstrual, taking oral contraceptives, postpartum, or perimenopausal. All diagnoses were made using DSM-III-R criteria. Rank-order correlations (r) were determined between mood ratings for different reproductive cycle event pairs. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between premenstrual and perimenopausal mood ratings (r = 0.41) and between postpartum and perimenopausal mood ratings (r = 0.64). Development of severe depression during the latter 2 events was strongly correlated (r = 0.87). Women who developed severe depression during at least 2 reproductive cycle events were more likely to have bipolar disorder, a family psychiatric history, and a younger age at onset. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there may be a unique subgroup of women who are vulnerable to depression at reproductive cycle events.
Gregory
Robert J.
RJ
Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.
Masand
Prakash S.
PS
Yohai
Norma H.
NH