Depression in Persons With Epilepsy: Lessons From Case Review.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is highly prevalent among persons with epilepsy (PWEs). Between 30% and 50% of PWEs suffer from depression. Many factors contribute to this prevalence, including the psychosocial impact of the diagnosis, restrictions on driving and certain types of work, and adverse effects associated with antiseizure medications. Without proper treatment, depressed PWEs have increased risks for suicide, strained relationships, lowered seizure control, and impairment in functioning. Our objective was to use the existing literature and insights from our experience in treating depression and anxiety in PWEs within an academic mood disorders center. We aimed to provide practical guidance for health care professionals who treat depression in this population. METHODS: Persons with epilepsy and depression were identified by their treating psychiatrists. Their electronic health records were reviewed and compiled for this report, with a total of 12 included in this review. Records were reviewed regarding antiseizure medications, psychotropic medications, light therapy, psychotherapy, other interventions, and treatment response. RESULTS: Based on our review of literature, as well as review of cases of individuals with epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric conditions, we recommend a step-wise evidence-based approach of optimizing psychiatric medication doses, augmenting with additional medication and/or implementing nonpharmacological interventions such as light therapy and psychotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In PWEs, improvement in depression, other psychiatric symptoms, and function are the goals of drug and nondrug interventions. Depression care has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of PWEs and reduce both morbidity and mortality.

Bright Light Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescent Outpatients: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Bright light therapy (BLT) has not been well-studied in adolescents with major depressive disorder, particularly in outpatient settings. METHODS: We conducted an 8-week clinical trial of BLT in adolescents recruited from a primary care practice with moderate to severe major depression. Acceptability and feasibility were defined by daily use of the light box and integration into daily routines. To assess treatment effects, we utilized the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) and actigraphic sleep variables. RESULTS: Of the nine enrolled adolescents, the rate of daily use of the light therapy box was 100% at week 2, 78% at week 4 (n = 7), and 67% at weeks 6 and 8 (n = 6). Participants were better able to integrate midday BLT compared to morning BLT into their day-to-day routines. Mean depression scores improved during the 2-week placebo lead-in (dim red light-DRL) and continued to show significant improvement through 6 weeks of BLT. Sleep efficiency increased significantly (p = 0.046), and sleep onset latency showed a trend toward a significant decrease (p = 0.075) in the BLT phase compared to the DRL phase. CONCLUSION: Bright light treatment that was self-administered at home was feasible, acceptable, and effective for adolescent outpatients with depression. Findings support the development of larger, well-powered, controlled clinical trials of BLT in coordination with primary care.

Light Therapy for Adolescent Depression: A Scoping Review.

PURPOSE: Depressive disorders in adolescents are a major health concern associated with developmental, social, and educational impairment. Bright Light Therapy (BLT) is a feasible and effective treatment for depressive disorders in adults, but few controlled trials have been conducted with children or adolescents. This scoping review focuses on the current state of knowledge for BLT in the treatment of adolescent depression. We reviewed the literature for novel data and methodologic approaches using BLT and pediatric and young adult populations. RECENT FINDINGS: BLT is a tolerable treatment with few side effects. However, there is a marked lack of well-powered studies to support BLT as a treatment for depressive disorders in adolescent populations. Given evidence of tolerability and positive treatment effect on depression in the adult literature, research is needed to establish the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of BLT in adolescents.

Trajectories of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Across Pregnancy and Postpartum in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-Treated Women.

Objective: Tracking perinatal mood and anxiety disorders is championed by the American Psychiatric Association and the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. We conducted this study to examine trajectories of monthly depressive and anxiety symptoms through pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: This is a prospective longitudinal observational cohort study of pregnant women interviewed at baseline (≤18th gestational week), every four weeks through delivery and at 6 and 14 weeks postpartum at three urban academic medical centers (N = 85) and a single rural health center (N = 3) from 2016 to 2020. Pregnant women had at least one prior episode of major depressive disorder, were not in a current episode, and were treated with sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, or escitalopram. Of 192 women screened, 88 (46%) women enrolled, and 77 (88%) women completed the postpartum follow-up. Symptom trajectories were generated with scores from the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, 7-item, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health measure. A semi-parametric, group-based mixture model (trajectory analysis) was applied. Results: Three relatively stable depression trajectories emerged, described as Minimal, Mild, and Subthreshold, in each group across pregnancy. Two of the four anxiety trajectories were stable, including Asymptomatic and Minimal, while the third, termed Breakthrough, was ascending with increasing symptoms and the fourth trajectory, described as Mild, had descending symptoms. Conclusions: Screening for anxiety with depression for pregnant women will yield a comprehensive view of psychiatric symptoms and treatment targets in perinatal women.

C-Reactive protein concentrations in reproductive-aged women with major mood disorders.

To examine associations between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and depressive symptoms in reproductive-aged women with mood disorders. Women (N = 86) with major depressive or bipolar disorder in a specialized mood disorders program provided plasma samples which were analyzed for CRP concentrations and categorized by tertiles (T1, low; T2, middle; T3 high). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms. We hypothesized that CRP concentrations would be significantly associated with the following: (1) depressive symptoms; (2) pregnancy, (3) body mass index, and (4) counts of white blood cells and absolute neutrophils and percentage of segmented neutrophils. The distribution of CRP concentrations was highly skewed with a median of 2.45 mg/L and an interquartile range 0.90 - 8.17 mg/L. Elevated plasma levels of CRP were not associated with depressive symptoms, which did not differ by tertile group either before or after adjusting for BMI, pregnancy status, and their interactions. Women in T3 had 5 times greater odds of pregnancy compared to women in T1 (p = .021). However, women in T2 had 11% greater BMI on average (p = 0.023), and women in T3 had 47% greater BMI compared to those in T1 (p < 0.001). Women in T3 had higher mean white blood cell counts than those in T1 and T2, the percentage of neutrophils was higher in T2 and T3 compared to T1, and women in T3 had higher absolute neutrophil counts compared to T1. CRP concentrations varied widely and were significantly elevated in reproductive-aged women with high BMI and current pregnancy, but not with depressive symptoms in this sample of depressed women.

A comparison of symptoms of bipolar and unipolar depression in postpartum women.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing postpartum women with bipolar from unipolar depression remains challenging, particularly in obstetrical and primary care settings. The post-birth period carries the highest lifetime risk for the onset or recurrence of Bipolar Disorder (BD). Characterization of differences between unipolar and bipolar depression symptom presentation and severity is critical to differentiate the two disorders. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of a study of 10,000 women screened by phone with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 4-6 weeks post-birth. Screen-positive mothers completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-4 and those diagnosed with BD and unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (UD) were included. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 29-item Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (SIGH-ADS). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 728 women with UD and 272 women with BD. Women with BD had significantly elevated levels of depression severity due to the higher scores on 8 of the 29 SIGH-ADS symptoms. Compared to UD, women with BD had significantly higher rates of comorbid anxiety disorders and were twice as likely to report sexual and/or physical abuse. LIMITATIONS: Only women who screened positive for depression were included in this analysis. Postpartum women with unstable living situations, who were hospitalized or did not respond to contact attempts did not contribute data. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of specific symptom constellations may be a useful guide for interviewing postpartum depressed women along with the presence of anxiety disorder comorbidity and physical and/or sexual abuse.

Carbon monoxide: a critical physiological regulator sensitive to light.

The mechanism by which humans absorb therapeutic light in winter seasonal and nonseasonal depression is unknown. Bright-light-induced release and generation of blood-borne gasotransmitters such as carbon monoxide (CO) may be one mechanism. Here, 24 healthy female volunteers had peripheral blood samples drawn. Samples were collected in a dimly lit room and protected from light exposure. Samples were analyzed for CO concentrations by gas chromatography after 2 h of continuous exposure to darkness vs. bright white light. In a similar confirmatory study, 11 additional volunteers had samples analyzed for CO concentrations after 2 h of continuous exposure to gentle rocking in darkness vs. in bright white light. In the first study, light-unexposed peripheral blood had a mean CO concentration of 1.8 ± 0.4 SD ppm/g. Identically treated samples with 2 h of rocking and exposure to bright white light at illuminance 10,000 lux had a mean CO of 3.6 ± 1.2 ppm/g (p < 0.0001). Post hoc analysis of that study showed that time of day was significantly inversely associated with increase in CO concentration under bright light vs. dark (p < 0.04). In a smaller confirmatory study of 11 healthy female volunteers, after 2 h of rocking, light-unexposed peripheral blood had a mean CO of 1.4 ± 0.5 SD ppm/g. Identically treated blood samples with 2 h of exposure to bright white light at illuminance 10,000 lux had a mean CO of 2.8 ± 1.7 ppm/g (p < 0.02). In conclusion, bright-light exposure robustly increases human blood CO in vitro. This supports the putative role of CO as a physiological regulator of circadian rhythms and light's antidepressant effects. This human evidence replicates earlier data from a preclinical in vivo model. This effect may be stronger in the morning than in the afternoon.

Light Therapy for Patients With Bipolar Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder (BD) is challenging to treat, and fewer treatments are available for depressive episodes compared to mania. Light therapy is an evidence-based nonpharmacological treatment for seasonal and nonseasonal major depression, but fewer studies have examined its efficacy for patients with BD. Hence, we reviewed the evidence for adjunctive light therapy as a treatment for bipolar depression. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of databases from inception to June 30, 2019, for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of light therapy in patients with BD (CRD42019128996). The primary outcome was change in clinician-rated depressive symptom score; secondary outcomes included clinical response, remission, acceptability, and treatment-emergent mood switches. We quantitatively pooled outcomes using meta-analysis with random-effects models. RESULTS: We identified seven trials representing 259 patients with BD. Light therapy was associated with a significant improvement in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (standardized mean difference = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.82, P = 0.03). There was also a significant difference in favor of light therapy for clinical response (odds ratio [OR] = 2.32; 95% CI, 1.12 to 4.81; P = 0.024) but not for remission. There was no difference in affective switches between active light and control conditions (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 0.38 to 4.44; P = 0.67). Study limitations included different light treatment parameters, small sample sizes, short treatment durations, and variable quality across trials. CONCLUSION: There is positive but nonconclusive evidence that adjunctive light therapy reduces symptoms of bipolar depression and increases clinical response. Light therapy is well tolerated with no increased risk of affective switch.

Four maternal characteristics determine the 12-month course of chronic severe postpartum depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression is a heterogeneous disorder in phenotype and etiology. Characterizing the longitudinal course of depressive symptoms over the first year after birth and identifying variables that predict distinct symptom trajectories will expedite efficient mental health treatment planning. The purpose was to determine 12-month trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms, identify characteristics that predict the trajectories, and provide a computational algorithm that predicts trajectory membership. METHODS: A prospective cohort of women delivering at an academic medical center (2006-2011) was recruited from an urban women's hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Women with a postpartum depressive disorder (n = 507) participated and completed symptom severity assessments at 4-8 weeks (intake), 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Women were predominantly Caucasian (71.8%), married (53.3%), and college educated (38.7%). Clinician interviews of depressive symptom severity, medical and psychiatric history, assessment of function, obstetric experience, and infant status were conducted. RESULTS: Analyses resulted in identification of three distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms: (1) gradual remission (50.4%), (2) partial improvement (41.8%), and (3) chronic severe (7.8%). Key predictive characteristics of the chronic severe versus gradual remission and partial improvement trajectories included parity, education, and baseline global functioning and depression severity. We were able to predict trajectory membership with 72.8% accuracy from these characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Four maternal characteristics predicted membership in the chronic severe versus gradual remission and partial improvement trajectories with 72.8% accuracy. The trajectory groups comprise clinically relevant subgroups with the potential for tailored treatments to reduce the disease burden of postpartum depression.

Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with bipolar disorder have recurrent major depression, residual mood symptoms, and limited treatment options. Building on promising pilot data, the authors conducted a 6-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of adjunctive bright light therapy at midday for bipolar depression. The aims were to determine remission rate, depression symptom level, and rate of mood polarity switch, as well as to explore sleep quality. METHOD: The study enrolled depressed adults with bipolar I or II disorder who were receiving stable dosages of antimanic medication (excluding patients with hypomania or mania, mixed symptoms, or rapid cycling). Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either 7,000-lux bright white light or 50-lux dim red placebo light (N=23 for each group). Symptoms were assessed weekly with the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Scale With Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS), the Mania Rating Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Remission was defined as having a SIGH-ADS score of 8 or less. RESULTS: At baseline, both groups had moderate depression and no hypomanic or manic symptoms. Compared with the placebo light group, the group treated with bright white light experienced a significantly higher remission rate (68.2% compared with 22.2%; adjusted odds ratio=12.6) at weeks 4-6 and significantly lower depression scores (9.2 [SD=6.6] compared with 14.9 [SD=9.2]; adjusted ß=-5.91) at the endpoint visit. No mood polarity switches were observed. Sleep quality improved in both groups and did not differ significantly between them. CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study provide robust evidence that supports the efficacy of midday bright light therapy for bipolar depression.

Telephone-Based Depression Care Management for Postpartum Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: With a period prevalence of 21.9% in the year after birth, depression is a common complication of childbearing. We assessed the impact of telephone-delivered depression care management (DCM) on symptom levels, health service utilization, and functional status 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. METHODS: The randomized controlled trial was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from March 2006 through September 2010. Women (N = 628) who screened positive for depression (a score of 10 or greater on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) 4 to 6 weeks postpartum were evaluated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Patient Edition With Psychotic Screen and enrolled in a randomized trial of DCM compared to enhanced usual care (EUC). Clinicians conducted telephone contacts to educate, assist with treatment decisions, monitor symptoms, facilitate access to services, and encourage links to community resources. Independent evaluators collected symptom scores, functional status, and health services use at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Primary outcome was reduction of symptoms as measured by the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement. RESULTS: Mean depressive symptom and function scores significantly improved (by greater than 50%) in both groups of women but did not differ by DCM versus EUC assignment. Health services use was similar in women randomly assigned to DCM compared to EUC. Women with childhood sexual abuse responded significantly more favorably to DCM on depression and functional measures (all P values < .02). CONCLUSIONS: Both DCM and EUC favorably impacted depression symptom levels and function. The subgroup of women with childhood sexual abuse benefited significantly more from DCM compared to the EUC condition. Regular telephone availability of a clinician is a resource that appears to be particularly therapeutic to women with childhood sexual abuse. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00282776.

Mood symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women with bipolar disorder: a naturalistic study.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a prospective naturalistic study of pregnant women with bipolar disorder (BD) to evaluate symptoms of BD across childbearing and assess whether pharmacotherapy reduced their severity. METHODS: Assessments were scheduled at 20, 30, and 36 weeks' gestation and 2, 12, 26, and 52 weeks postpartum. Symptoms were assessed using the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS) and Mania Rating Scale (MRS). RESULTS: Pregnant women (N=152) with BD were evaluated; 88 women (58%) were treated and 64 untreated (42%) with psychotropic drugs during pregnancy. Among the 88 women treated, 23 (26%) discontinued their medication in the first trimester and the remaining 65 (74%) were exposed throughout pregnancy or in the second and third trimesters. More than two-thirds (73%) of the women who remained in the study took psychotropic agents postpartum. The mean scores on the SIGH-ADS were in the mild range of depressive symptoms in both the psychotropic-treated and untreated groups in both pregnancy and postpartum. The majority of women had no or few symptoms of mania. Of the pregnant women treated with psychotropic agents, 66% received a guideline-concordant drug, and 34% received either antidepressant monotherapy (for BD I) or mono- or polypharmacy with a variety of other agents. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of perinatal women with BD was characterized by mild residual symptoms of depression independent of pharmacotherapy, which poses a risk for recurrence and impaired parenting. The treatment of childbearing women with BD deserves urgent clinical and research attention to improve psychiatric outcomes.

Neonatal Discontinuation Syndrome in Serotonergic Antidepressant-Exposed Neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether infants exposed in utero to serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants or a DSM-IV-TR-defined mood disorder have significantly more neonatal discontinuation signs compared to an unexposed group of infants at 2-4 weeks after birth. METHODS: This secondary analysis was derived from 2 observational studies with enrollment from July 2000 to December 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mothers (n = 214) belonged to one of 3 groups based on exposure status during pregnancy: (1) Comparison-women who did not take psychotropics during pregnancy and had no major mood disorder; (2) SRI-exposed-women with a mood disorder who were taking an SRI but no benzodiazepines; and (3) Mood Disorder-women with depression or bipolar disorder who did not take psychotropic medications. The infants were examined for signs according to the Finnegan Scale by evaluators blind to maternal exposure status. RESULTS: The rates of sign presence (defined as a score ≥ 2 on the Finnegan Scale) in the SRI, Mood Disorder, and Comparison groups were similar at 34.1%, 35.1%, and 30.4%, respectively. Women in the SRI group had a significantly higher preterm birth rate (24.4%) compared to the other 2 groups (7.4% and 8.9% in the Mood Disorder and Comparison groups, respectively; P = .012). Preterm newborns had a significantly higher sign rate compared to full-term newborns (54% vs 31%, P = .020). We observed a significant relationship between Finnegan signs and preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of neonatal signs at 2-4 weeks was more closely associated with prematurity than with in utero SRI or mood disorder exposure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT00279370 and NCT00585702.

One-Year Developmental Outcomes for Infants of Mothers With Bipolar Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Few data about the development of infants born to women with bipolar disorder have been published. We hypothesized that infants of women with bipolar disorder (by DSM-IV criteria) treated with psychotropics (BD+) or untreated with psychotropics (BD-) would demonstrate poorer cognitive and behavioral development than infants of controls. On the basis of previous studies, we expected that psychotropic-exposed infants of women in the BD+ group would have poorer neuromotor performance during infancy. METHODS: This longitudinal study included 197 mother-infant dyads recruited to participate between July 2006 and March 2011: 81 with prenatal maternal bipolar disorder without psychotropic treatment (BD-, n = 27) or bipolar disorder with psychotropic exposure (BD+, n = 54) and 116 in which infants were exposed to neither bipolar disorder nor psychotropics. Maternal psychopathology and pharmacotherapy exposure assessments were completed at 20, 30, and 36 prenatal weeks and 12, 26, and 52 weeks postpartum. Infants were evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition, which included the psychomotor (Psychomotor Development Index [PDI]), cognitive (Mental Development Index [MDI]), and behavioral (Behavioral Rating Scale [BRS]) components. RESULTS: Neither prenatal exposure to BD- or BD+ significantly impacted overall PDI (P = .2449), MDI (P = .7886), or BRS (P = .6072) scores. However, we observed a significant effect of BD+ exposure-by-time interaction for the BRS Motor Quality index (F245 = 3.16, P = .0441), with BD+ exposed infants less likely to be above the 75th percentile at the 52-week assessment (mean = 11.5%) compared with BD- (mean = 40.0%) and nonexposed infants (mean = 48.4%). CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant impact of prenatal BD- or BD+ exposure on infant PDI, MDI, or overall BRS scores at 12, 26, or 52 weeks of age, with most scores remaining within normal limits. Consistent with previous studies, we found a specific effect of prenatal BD+ exposure on quality of motor functioning at 1 year. However, the majority of infants were within normal limits on this developmental outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00585702.

Factors associated with onset timing, symptoms, and severity of depression identified in the postpartum period.

BACKGROUND: Unipolar and bipolar depression identified in the postpartum period have a heterogeneous etiology. The objectives of this study are to examine the risk factors that distinguish the timing of onset for unipolar and bipolar depression and the associations between depression onset by diagnosis, and general and atypical depressive symptoms. METHODS: Symptoms of depression were assessed at 4- to 6-weeks postpartum by the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Atypical Depression Symptoms in an obstetrical sample of 727 women. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-square, and linear regression. RESULTS: Mothers with postpartum onset of depression were more likely to be older, Caucasian, educated, married/cohabitating, have one or no previous child, and have private insurance in contrast to mothers with pre-pregnancy and prenatal onset of depression. Mothers with bipolar depression were more likely to have a pre-pregnancy onset. Three general and two atypical depressive symptoms distinguished pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum depression onset, and the presence of agitation distinguished between unipolar and bipolar depression. LIMITATIONS: The sample was urban, which may not be generalizable to other populations. The study was cross-sectional, which excludes potential late onset of depression (after 4-6 weeks) in the first postpartum year. CONCLUSIONS: A collective set of factors predicted the onset of depression identified in the postpartum for mothers distinguished by episodes of unipolar versus bipolar depression, which can inform clinical interventions. Future research on the onset of major depressive episodes could inform prophylactic and early psychiatric interventions.

Transdermal Estradiol Treatment for Postpartum Depression: A Pilot, Randomized Trial.

Postpartum depression occurs in 14.5% of women in the first 3 months after birth. This study was an 8-week acute phase randomized trial with 3 cells (transdermal estradiol [E2], sertraline [SERT], and placebo [PL]) for the treatment of postpartum major depressive disorder. However, the study was stopped after batch analysis revealed that the E2 serum concentrations were lower than prestudy projections. This paper explores our experiences that will inform future investigations of therapeutic E2 use. Explanations for the low E2 concentrations were as follows: (1) study patch nonadhesion, which did not explain the low concentrations across the entire sample. (2) Ineffective transdermal patch preparations, although 2 different patch preparations were used and no significant main effect of patch type on E2 concentrations was found. (3) Obesity, at study entry, E2-treated women had body mass index of 32.9 (7.4) (mean [SD]). No pharmacokinetic data comparing E2 concentrations from transdermal patches in obese women versus normal weight controls are available. (4) Induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 3A4 and other E2 elimination pathways in pregnancy. CYP4503A4 is induced in pregnancy and is a pathway for the metabolism of E2. Conversion to estrone and phase II metabolism via glucuronidation and sulfation, which also increase in pregnancy, are routes of E2 elimination. The time required for these pathways to normalize after delivery has not been elucidated. The observation that transdermal E2 doses greater than 100 µg/d did not increase serum concentrations was unexpected. Another hypothesis consistent with this observation is suppression of endogenous E2 secretion with increasing exogenous E2 dosing.

DOES SCREENING WITH THE MDQ AND EPDS IMPROVE IDENTIFICATION OF BIPOLAR DISORDER IN AN OBSTETRICAL SAMPLE?

BACKGROUND: Women with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk for postpartum affective episodes and psychosis. Although validated screening tools are available for postpartum unipolar depression, few screening tools for hypomania/mania exist. Screening tools for BD in the postpartum period are essential for improving detection and planning appropriate treatment. We evaluated whether adding the Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ) to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) increased the identification of BD in the early postpartum period. METHODS: Women (N = 1,279) who delivered a live infant and screened positive on the EPDS and/or MDQ at 4-6 weeks postbirth were invited to undergo an in-home Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). RESULTS: Positive EPDS and/or MDQ screens occurred in 12% of the sample (n = 155). In home SCID diagnostic interviews were completed in 93 (60%) of the mothers with positive screens. BD was the primary diagnosis in 37% (n = 34). Women with BD screened positive on the EPDS and/or MDQ as follows: EPDS+/MDQ+ (n = 14), EPDS+/MDQ- (n = 17), and EPDS-/MDQ+ (n = 3). The MDQ identified 50% (17/34) of the women with BD and 6 additional cases of BD when the MDQ question regarding how impaired the mother perceived herself was excluded from the screen criterion. CONCLUSION: Addition of the MDQ to the EPDS improved the distinction of unipolar depression from bipolar depression at the level of screening in 50% of women with traditional MDQ scoring and by nearly 70% when the MDQ was scored without the impairment criterion.

Theoretical approaches to maternal-infant interaction: which approach best discriminates between mothers with and without postpartum depression?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine which of the four common approaches to coding maternal-infant interaction best discriminates between mothers with and without postpartum depression. METHODS: After extensive training, four research assistants coded 83 three minute videotapes of maternal infant interaction at 12month postpartum visits. Four theoretical approaches to coding (Maternal Behavior Q-Sort, the Dyadic Mini Code, Ainsworth Maternal Sensitivity Scale, and the Child-Caregiver Mutual Regulation Scale) were used. Twelve month data were chosen to allow the maximum possible exposure of the infant to maternal depression during the first postpartum year. The videotapes were created in a laboratory with standard procedures. Inter-rater reliabilities for each coding method ranged from .7 to .9. The coders were blind to depression status of the mother. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the women had major depressive disorder during the 12month postpartum period. Receiver operating characteristics analysis indicated that none of the four methods of analyzing maternal infant interaction discriminated between mothers with and without major depressive disorder. CONCLUSION: Limitations of the study include the cross-sectional design and the low number of women with major depressive disorder. Further analysis should include data from videotapes at earlier postpartum time periods, and alternative coding approaches should be considered. Nurses should continue to examine culturally appropriate ways in which new mothers can be supported in how to best nurture their babies.