Prevalence Of Post Partum Depression Among Postnatal Women At A Tertiary Care Centre Using Edinburgh Post Partum Depression Scale

Postpartum depression is a grave mental health problem, which is more prevalent than society realizes and poses great risk. It has been associated with lack of breastfeeding, aversion towards the baby and negative impact on the development of the child. A total of 300 women who delivered between January 14 to March 31 of 2020 at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital were chosen following ethical clearance. After explaining the aspects of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale in their native language, the questionnaire was provided. A score of 10 and above were considered positive. Data were evaluated using SPSS and Chi square test. The prevalence of PPD was seen in 14% of women. It was higher with vaginal delivery, in women who had multiple births, lack of financial and social support, with domestic violence and alcoholic partner. Medical help was advised to women who scored 10 and above; only 5% sought medical intervention. Others did not recognize depression as a health issue. This shows the lack of awareness among the population. Medical health professionals should spread awareness, conduct more studies to evaluate the prevalence, the predisposing factors, methods for early diagnosis and ways to help women overcome “THE OTHER SIDE OF MOTHERHOOD”.

A cross sectional study to assess the prevalence and risk factors of post-partum depression in urban area of Indore district

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are important events in the life of a woman. Life with the new born can be very rewarding but it can be very tough for some women. This phase of life brings about many hormonals, physical and emotional changes in the women during childbirth. Aims and objectives were to find out the prevalence and risk factors of post-partum depression (PPD) in urban area of Indore district and to assess the socio demographic profile of study populationMethods: The study was a cross sectional community-based study, conducted on women who had delivered within a period of 6 weeks to 3 months. 100 women from urban area were selected from Indore district through simple random sampling. Informed consent in written was taken from the mothers. The study tool was pre designed semi structured questionnaire and Edinburgh post-natal depression scale (EPDS) scale, data were entered in excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS software, appropriate statistical test were applied wherever necessary.Results: In our study it was found that prevalence of PPD in urban Indore was 23%. We found that age at the time of marriage below 18 years, mode of delivery (LSCS), initiation of breast feeding (after 1 hour) and birth weight of baby less than 2.5 kg had a strong association with PPD. In our study 58% had normal vaginal delivery and 42% had LSCS in urban area. In urban areas 36% gave a history of birth weight of babies <2.5 kg.Conclusions: Symptoms of PPD were significantly high in urban Indore mothers and they were strongly associated with risk factors.

Allopregnanolone mediates affective switching through modulation of oscillatory states in the basolateral amygdala

Brexanolone (allopregnanolone), was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of post-partum depression, demonstrating long-lasting antidepressant effects. Despite our understanding of the mechanism of action of neurosteroids as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABAa receptors, we still do not fully understand how allopregnanolone exerts these persistent antidepressant effects. Here, we demonstrate that allopregnanolone and similar synthetic neuroactive steroid analogs, SGE-516 (tool-compound) and zuranolone (SAGE-217, investigational-compound), are capable of modulating oscillatory states across species, which we propose may contribute to long-lasting changes in behavioral states. We identified a critical role for interneurons in generating oscillations in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and a role for delta-containing GABAaRs in mediating the ability of neurosteroids to modulate network and behavioral states. Actions of allopregnanolone in the BLA is sufficient to alter behavioral states and enhance BLA high-theta oscillations (6-12Hz) through delta-containing GABAa receptors, a mechanism distinct from other GABAa PAMs, such as benzodiazepines. Moreover, treatment with the allopregnanolone analog SGE-516 induces long-lasting protection from chronic stress-induced disruption of network states, which correlates with improved behavioral outcomes. Our findings demonstrate a novel molecular and cellular mechanism mediating the well-established anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of neuroactive steroids.

UTILITY OF HOMOEOPATHY IN POST PARTUM DEPRESSION- A CASE REPORT

Postpartum depression is commonly experienced by women, which postpartum can be very distressing for the mother and interfere with normal maternal-infant bonding and adversely affect child development. Recent reports show that most affected pregnant women are hesitant about taking antidepressant drugs, with a high percentage discontinuing their use, specically due to stigma as well as lack of awareness about this condition. In this article, a case of postpartum depression, treated successfully with homeopathy, is presented, wherein the patient got better not just in symptoms, but improved in quality of life, withing a short span of 3-4weeks without any use of antidepressants or structured psychotherapy.