title: [Post partum depression: future perspectives].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Post partum depression (PPD) is a psychiatric illness approximately affecting 10-20% of women after childbirth. The objective of this work is to update our knowledge of PPD giving particular emphasis to etiopathogenetic hypotheses.
  
  
  METHODS
  An accurate search of the literature on this topic was conducted using free dedicated websites such as PubMed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most recent studies reveal that PPD is a complex disease, whose pathogenesis is not yet clarified, determined by a mix of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Genetic studies have shown a possible involvement of polymorphisms of genes coding for serotonin transporter, 5HT2A and 5HT2C receptors, HMCN1 and METTL13 genes, D2 receptor and GABAA receptor (GABAAR). The involvement of these systems might provide an explanation of the relations among genetic alterations, hormonal fluctuations in the post partum, changes in neurotransmission and mood fluctuations typical of PPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained so far are not exhaustive. However, there is a substantial evidence showing that patients with PPD may have a high genetic vulnerability, although we have not been able yet to pinpoint a specific biological marker of the disease. Recent research is focusing on the δ subunit of GABAAR and the possible role of selective agonists of this subunit, such as gaboxadol, in the treatment of PPD.
authors: Sezione di Neuroscienze r Farmacologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Cagliari.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Pinna
authors: Maria Del
authors: MD
authors: Zompo
mesh_terms: D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones