Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract]Objective: To investigate the changes and significance of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thyroid function and sex hormone levels in postpartum depression patients. Methods: 100 pregnant women with postpartum depression assessed by our psychiatric outpatient clinic 6 to 7 weeks after delivery were selected as the depression group, and 100 pregnant women who did not experience depression during the same period were selected as the control group; HPA hormones, thyroid function hormones, Sex hormone levels; and analyzed the relationship between the hormone levels of patients in the depression group and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) score. Results: Patients in the depression group had higher levels of CHR and ACTH (P <0.05), patients in the depression group had lower levels of CORT (P <0.05); patients in the depression group had lower TSH levels than the control group (P <0.05), The levels of TG-Ab, TPO-Ab, FT3, and FT4 in patients in the depression group were not significantly different from those in the control group (P> 0.05); E2 levels in patients in the depression group were lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). The PRL and P values of the patients were higher than those of the control group (P <0.05). The levels of E2, TSH, and CORT in the depression group were significantly negatively correlated with the EPDS scores (P <0.05). The PRL, CHR, and ACTH of the depression group were significantly lower. There was a significant positive correlation between the measured value and EPDS score (P <0.05). Conclusion: Postpartum depression patients are significantly affected by changes in their own hormone levels. Adjusting the postpartum hormone level is beneficial to alleviate the condition and treatment of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Thyroid function; Sex hormones; Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale