Prevention of postpartum depression: a pilot randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The authors attempted to reduce the rate of postpartum depression in high-risk women and to increase the time to recurrence.


METHODS
Nondepressed pregnant women with at least one past episode of postpartum major depression were recruited into a randomized clinical trial. Mothers were assigned randomly to a 17-week trial of sertraline or placebo immediately after birth and assessed for 20 sequential weeks with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.


RESULTS
Of 14 subjects who took sertraline, one (7%) suffered a recurrence. Of eight subjects who were assigned to placebo, four (50%) suffered recurrences. This difference was significant. The time to recurrence was significantly longer in the sertraline-treated women than in the placebo-treated women.


CONCLUSIONS
Sertraline conferred preventive efficacy for postpartum-onset major depression beyond that of placebo.
Wisner
Katherine L
KL
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. WisnerKL@upmc.edu
Perel
James M
JM
Peindl
Kathleen S
KS
Hanusa
Barbara H
BH
Piontek
Catherine M
CM
Findling
Robert L
RL
D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline