Plasma concentrations of neurotransmitters and postpartum depression / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective:To determine associations between postpartum depression (PPD) and plasma neurotransmitters.Methods:We conducted a case-control study nested to a prospective cohort established in 3 comprehensive tertiary hospitals in Changsha,Hunan,China from February to September 2007.The Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used at 2 weeks postpartum to screen PPD,with a score of 13 or higher as the cut-off for PPD.The women with matched age but without PPD and delivery within 5 years were selected as controls.The levels of plasma monoamine neurotransmitters including serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT),dopamine (DA),and norepinephrine (NE),and peptide neurotransmitters including neuropeptide Y (NPY) and substance P (SP) in maternal blood samples taken at 2 weeks postpartum were measured and compared between PPD women (n=42) and controls (n=42).Results:Plasma levels of 5-HT and NPY were significantly lower while plasma levels of NE and SP were significantly higher in PPD women than those in the controls.For women with PPD,a negative correlation between NPY and NE (r=-0.36,P＜0.05) was observed.Conclusion:There are changes in plasma levels of neurotransmitters in women with PPD,and there are potential interactions between different neurotransmitters.