The Association between Late Third-Trimester Oxytocin Level and Early-Onset Postpartum Depression Symptoms among Jordanian Mothers: A Cross-sectional Study.

Hasan Rawashdeh,Mohammad Alqudah,Rana Alodetalah,Amer Sindiani,Zahra Alalwani,Janusz K Rybakowski

doi:10.1155/2022/7474121

Abstract

Purpose Oxytocin has been suggested to play a vital role in modulating maternal behavior and stress-related disorders. However, the relationship between antenatal oxytocin and postpartum depression is not well established. We aim to investigate the association between serum oxytocin level in the late third-trimester and early-onset postpartum depression symptoms. Materials and Methods A total of 172 healthy pregnant women participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. The serum oxytocin level was measured between 34 and 37 weeks. A validated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess symptoms of depression four to six weeks postpartum. Participants who scored more than 12 on the EPDS were considered having depressive symptoms. Independent sample t-test and Pearson r were used to examine differences in depression scores. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Results 30.8% of the participants experienced depressive symptoms. There was no association between EPDS scores and oxytocin level r(170) = 0.10, p = 0.23. The association also did not exist even among women with a lifetime history of depression r(43) = −0.13, p = 0.37. Participants with low education, low income, previous history of depression, positive family history of depression, positive family issues, and absent emotional family support have scored significantly higher on EPDS scores than their counterparts. The strongest association was with previous lifetime history of depression t(170) = −4.40, p < 0.001. Conclusions Postpartum depression is a major public health problem in Jordan. Late trimester serum oxytocin level has no association with early-onset postpartum depression.

Highlights

Pregnancy is a major life event that is inevitably accompanied by social, psychological, and hormonal changes
Due to the available evidence showing the link between oxytocin with maternal behavior, mother-infant bonding, and stress-related disorders along with its antidepressant and anxiolytic properties, we have established this study primarily to test the association between oxytocin and Postpartum depression (PPD) [14, 22]
We have studied the associations between PPD and other psychosocial and clinical variables as potential etiologic factors suggested in the literature [19]

Summary

Introduction

Pregnancy is a major life event that is inevitably accompanied by social, psychological, and hormonal changes. From a psychological point of view, it is considered the most complex event in human experience. Pregnancy can trigger a wide range of emotions from transient mood liability to severe depressive episodes [1]. In Jordan, the incidence of PPD is about 22%, which is comparable to the nearby countries [3–5]. It places PPD as one of the most common and most serious public health problems since it is a major contributor to the 8% of maternal deaths related to mental health problems [6]. Infants of PPD mothers are at significant risk of physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal problems in their later lives [1]

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