World of Psychology

Study: Pregnancy May Not Help Depression

By John M Grohol PsyD
February 1, 2006

Study: Pregnancy May Not Help Depression

Pregnant women who stop taking antidepressants run a high risk of slipping back into depression, a study found, busting the myth that the surge of hormones during pregnancy keeps mothers-to-be happy and glowing.

The study offers new information but no clear answers for expectant mothers who must balance the risk of medications harming the fetus against the danger of untreated depression.

“It’s important that patients not assume that the hormones of pregnancy are going to protect them from the types of problems they’ve had with mood previously,” said study co-author Dr. Lee Cohen of Massachusetts General Hospital.

The study does not deal with postpartum depression — the depression that sets in after delivery, and is often blamed on hormonal changes. The research looks only at depression during pregnancy, a condition far less understood.


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3 Comments to
“Study: Pregnancy May Not Help Depression”

Hi, I found your blog while gathering info about pregnancy symptoms. Wandering if you can help me…I had sex with my bf, unprotected sex to be more specific, and he came in me. My period started 3 days after that, but can I be pregnant? :-?? Also had some nausea

i would have A LOT to say about this topic from my own experience of stopping antidepressants with pregnancy and then becoming almost psychotically depressed, and…..but why bother?

It’s like talking against a wall with these posts and especially when you are late!

The large change in water levels during pregnancy suggests that hyponatremia may be the root cause of this depression. My personal experience has shown me how inept current psychiatric medicine is at detecting this condition. A high salt diet (10-15g/day providing hypertension doesn’t become a problem) is probably all that is needed to overcome this depression.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 1 Feb 2006

 


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