title: Interaction of oxytocin level and past depression may predict postpartum depressive symptom severity.
abstract: We examined plasma oxytocin concentration and postpartum depression (PPD) symptom severity in women who were not depressed during pregnancy and whether this differed by major depressive disorder (MDD) history. We assessed psychiatric history and plasma oxytocin in 66 healthy pregnant women in the third trimester (M = 35 ± 3 weeks) and depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum (M = 5.9 ± 0.8 weeks). Linear regression analysis was used to examine oxytocin and PPD symptom severity and moderation of oxytocin and PPD by past MDD. Women with (n = 13) and without (n = 53) past MDD differed in third trimester depressive symptom severity, but not oxytocin level, demographic factors, or birth outcomes. Controlling for third trimester depressive symptoms, oxytocin level was unrelated to PPD symptom severity [B(SE) = -.019 (.084); β = -.025; t = -.227; p = .821]. However, oxytocin level interacted with past MDD to predict PPD symptom severity [B(SE) = 7.489 (2.429); β = .328; t = 3.084; p = .003]. Higher oxytocin predicted greater PPD symptom severity in women with past MDD (p = .019), but not in women without (p = .216). Replication in a larger sample and methodologic challenges are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. suena.massey@northwestern.edu.|Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. suena.massey@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Suena H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.|Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schuette
authors.affiliation: The Kinsey Institute and Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pournajafi-Nazarloo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wisner
authors.affiliation: The Kinsey Institute and Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: C Sue
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000209:etiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Biomarker; Hormone; Mood; Oxytocin; Oxytocin receptor gene; Postpartum depression