Depression Linked to Early Birth

Pregnant woman who are suffering from severe depression could be putting their unborn baby at risk according to a report released today.

The study that was recently carried out in the U.K. found that pregnant women suffering from depression were more likely to give birth prematurely than mothers who were not suffering from depression.

The new findings were revealed at a recent meeting of the Institute of Psychiatry. At the meeting, the suspected reason for the higher chances of premature births for mothers that are severely depression was pinned on a stress hormone. The study found that in depressed mothers levels of stress hormone were much higher than in non-depressed mothers. It is thought that this stress hormone is responsible for triggering birth.

These findings have raised some concern and highlighted the need for larger studies. This is because a high number of women suffer from depression while they are pregnant.

One of the researchers who discovered the link between depression in pregnancy and premature birth was Dr Veronica O'Keane. Dr. O'Keane is a perinatal psychiatrist who works at King's Collage London. During the study Dr. O'Keane took measurements of the stress hormone called corticotrophin-releasing hormone or CRH from a number of women. Of the women tested 25 were suffering severe depression and 35 were not suffering depression.

The results of the measurements found that CRH levels were higher in women with depression. Of the women studied the mothers suffering from depression gave birth an average of 2 days early, however 3 of the women in the depressed group gave birth prematurely. This means they had a birth that occurred in under 37 weeks. There were no early or premature births in the control group of women who were not suffering depression.

Depression in women during pregnancy cannot only affect the time of birth; it can also affect the child's stress levels. Early studies found that children that had mothers suffering from high anxiety during pregnancy had high levels of another stress hormone called cortisol. This stress hormone was found in the children at higher levels when the children were test at age 10. This led researchers to think that the stress was passed from mother to child.

According to the study it was pointed out that some levels of the stress hormone CRH were necessary during pregnancy to ensure organs could develop correctly. However where high levels of the hormone were present premature birth could be triggered.

Dr. O'Keane stated that the diagnosis and treatment of depression during pregnancy was very poorly recognised. She said, "There is a myth that depression doesn't happen in pregnancy but postnatal depression probably started in pregnancy in about 50% of cases. I don't think women with a history of depression should discontinue antidepressants but they should go to a specialist."

Currently in the UK it is thought that 1 in 10 woman suffer from postnatal depression. It is thought by Dr. O'Keane that in many cases this depression actually began during the pregnancy. She feels that it is important to for pregnant women to recognise their feelings during pregnancy and seek help then instead of waiting until after they give birth.

Sources
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,2049591,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6522375.stm
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007150433,00.html