Blood Marker Helps Identify Women At Risk Of Postpartum Depression

A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that anywhere from 8 to 19 percent of women have reported having frequent postpartum depressive symptoms, ranging from low or sad mood, loss of interest in fun activities, changes in eating, sleeping or overall energy, problems thinking or concentrating and overall feelings of worthlessness, shame or guilt.

Yet new findings published in the journal Frontiers in Genetics have identified associations between the development of the health issue via a blood marker that may increase the risk of the problem.

As previous studies have shown that the hormone oxytocin plays an important role in the development of a healthy birth, lower stress levels and maternal bonding, as well as mood regulation throughout the process, researchers also found that the genetic and epigenetic markers in oxytocin were linked to an increased risk of PPD.

For the study, researchers collated data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to test the hypothesis based on 14,541 pregnancies in women whose expected date of delivery was between April 1991 and December 1992. The survey was initiated during the start of pregnancy, which also included medical records, review and collection of biological specimens from both mothers and babies. Blood samples were also extracted from the mothers when they were at the 7th-14th age of gestation, particularly during their routine antenatal care visits.

Findings revealed that there is a relationship between the genotype rs53576, the regulation of gene expression levels of OXTR and the development of PPD.

"We can greatly improve the outcome of this disorder with the identification of markers, biological or otherwise, that can identify women who may be at risk for its development," said Jessica Connelly, senior author of the study and an assistant professor of Psychology at University of Virginia, in a news release. 

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