The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the perinatal period: Its relationship with major depressive disorder and early life adversity. (8th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jairaj, Chaitra; O'Leary, Niamh; Doolin, Kelly; Farrell, Chloe; McCarthy, Anthony; McAuliffe, Fionnuala M.; O'Grady-Walshe, Ann; Sheehan, John; O'Keane, Veronica
• Is Part Of: World journal of biological psychiatry. Volume 21:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 552
• Page End: 563
• Publication Date: 2020-08-08
• Subjects: Depression -- cortisol -- perinatal depression -- early life adversity; Biological psychiatry -- Periodicals; Biological Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1740318
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1562-2975

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Effects of major depressive disorder and early life adversity (ELA) on the maternal HPA axis in the perinatal period were examined. Methods: Four groups of women ( n = 127) were recruited, with the perinatal groups being compared during pregnancy (Preg) and at two months postpartum (PP) – [1] Depressed during pregnancy (Depressed-Preg/PP), [2] Prior history of depression but euthymic during pregnancy (History-Preg/PP), [3] Healthy pregnant women (Control-Preg/PP), and [4] Healthy non-pregnant women (Non-pregnant Control). Serial saliva samples were collected over the course of a day and waking and evening cortisol, total cortisol output and the cortisol awakening response were examined. Results: There were no HPA axis differences among the three groups during pregnancy. A history of ELA, regardless of comorbid depression, was associated with higher evening cortisol levels during pregnancy ( p = 0.015). Women in the Depressed-PP group had had higher evening cortisol levels compared to the History-PP group ( p < 0.017). Conclusions: Evening cortisol measures are a potential marker for both ELA and depression, with higher levels during pregnancy being associated with ELA and higher levels postpartum being associated with antenatal depression.