368. Maternal mental health (mama) trial evaluating short-term estrogen as a strategy to prevent postpartum depression in high-risk women: Protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction and aims of the study:Perinatal depression affects 10–15% of women postpartum and has a recurrence rate of 40% in subsequent pregnancies. Women who develop perinatal depression are suspected to be more sensitive to the rapid and large fluctuations in sex steroid hormones, particularly estradiol, during pregnancy and postpartum. This trial aims to evaluate the preventive effect of three weeks transdermal estradiol treatment immediately postpartum on depressive episodes in women at high risk for developing postpartum depression.