title: Weight changes in postpartum women with remitted depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare weight loss after birth in women who took the antidepressants nortriptyline or sertraline or placebo in 2 clinical studies designed to prevent recurrent postpartum major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 1995 to 2001. All subjects had at least 1 prior episode of Research Diagnostic Criteria- or DSM-IV-defined major depressive disorder. Data on weight were available for 467 weeks from 60 women who were weighed 8 times from 2 to 17 weeks postpartum. The dependent measures were weight at weeks 11 and 17 and weight change from weeks 2 to 17 postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 17, the women's weights ranged from 109 to 268 lb. Their weight change ranged from +14 to -19 lb over the 15-week postpartum period (mean = -1.8, SD = 5.1 lb). After controlling for week 2 weights, the mean weights at week 17 for the women treated with nortriptyline, sertraline, or placebo were not significantly different. Of 60 women with 3 or more weight assessments, those who were randomly assigned to nortriptyline lost weight more rapidly than the other 2 groups; however, the mean weight change across all groups was only -1.8 lb (SD = 5.1 lb).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight loss was not compromised by antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Postpartum weight retention occurred in this group of nondepressed women with previous histories of major depression independent of drug treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gracious
authors.forename: Barbara H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hanusa
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wisner
authors.forename: Kathleen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Peindl
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Perel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline