Postpartum thyroid measures and depressive symptomology: a pilot study.

CONTEXT: While correlations have been demonstrated between postpartum depression and psychosocial and circumstantial risk factors, some evidence exists for a similar relationship between postpartum depression and thyroid measures. OBJECTIVE: To search at 4 weeks postpartum for correlations of numerical scores on a postnatal depression screening tool and thyroid measures. METHODS: Subjects took the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) prenatally and at 4 weeks postpartum. Participants were also given blood tests for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine4, thyroid peroxidase, and thyroglobulin at the same testing intervals. RESULTS: Fifty-one subjects aged 18 years or older were recruited. Subjects with higher serum TSH at 4 weeks postpartum tended to have higher EPDS scores. Similarly, the 7 subjects (13.7%) with positive postnatal thyroid antibody tests were more likely than their counterparts to have higher EPDS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of thyroid autoantibodies or higher TSH levels during the postpartum period may be related to depressive symptoms or dysphoric mood, even when clinical depression is not present. Either or both of these associations may contribute, along with other physiologic and psychosocial risk factors, to postpartum depression. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00565032).

Correlations of visual analog scales with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to search for correlations of scores on the visual analog scales (VAS) taken during the third week postpartum with scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) taken on approximately day 28 postpartum. METHODS: Thirty-four women filled out six visual analog scales on postpartum days 15-21 and took the EPDS at their 4-week postpartum visit to the clinic. Results were analyzed by simple linear regression and multiple backward stepwise regression. RESULTS: Responses to all six statements of the VAS correlated significantly with 4-week EPDS scores. Approximately 54% of the variability of 4-week EPDS scores can be predicted by the variability in VAS question 6. LIMITATIONS: Relatively small sample size is a moderately limiting factor of this study. CONCLUSION: Mood in the third week postpartum was predictive of EPDS score on postpartum day 28. Mood lability during the third week postpartum was a better predictor of EPDS score on day 28 than the other five measures, including feelings of sadness or anxiety. The EPDS may have potential use with an acceptable degree of accuracy earlier than the standard 4 weeks postpartum.