Pharmacotherapy of postpartum depression.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence and recurrence rates of postpartum depression (PPD) are 13 and 25%, respectively. Despite its detrimental impact on the health of the mother-infant dyad, there is a paucity of data in the literature regarding the efficacy of pharmacological treatment of PPD.


OBJECTIVE
i) To review the literature on the use of antidepressants and hormonal supplements for the prevention and the treatment of PPD; ii) to give the authors' opinion on the current status of the pharmacological treatment of PPD; and iii) to discuss developments that are likely to be important in the future.


METHODS
An electronic search was performed by using PubMed, Medline, and PsychINFO. Inclusion criteria were: i) empirical articles in peer-reviewed English-language journals; ii) well-validated measures of depression; and iii) a uniform scoring system for depression among the sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The electronic search yielded a total of 19 articles (12 on treatment and 7 on prevention of PPD) with the following study designs: eight randomized clinical trials (six using placebo control and two using active control groups), and 11 open-label studies. The selection of the specific antidepressant for a woman with PPD should derive from a personalized risk-benefit analysis.
di Scalea
Teresa Lanza
TL
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. lanzadiscaleat@upmc.edu
Wisner
Katherine L
KL
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000928:Antidepressive Agents