Postpartum Thyroid Measures and Mood

Postpartum Thyroid Measures and Mood

Women with abnormal serum thyroid antibody levels or abnormal TSH and/or T4 values are more likely than their normal counterparts to have higher scores on a common postpartum depression screening test.

This small pilot study was an attempt to corroborate a relationship between quantified mood and thyroid measures, using the numerical scores obtained from a common depression screen, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), as a continuum. Mood scores were compared with presence of thyroid autoantibodies and plasma concentrations of free T4 and TSH.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years of age

• In third trimester of pregnancy when recruited

• Negative for the following drugs detected by a urine drug screen:

  • Amphetamines
  • Barbiturates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates
  • Phencyclidine metabolites (PCP), and tricyclic antidepressants
  • Vaginal delivery
  • Screened negative for major depressive disorder on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at her prenatal enrollment in the study
  • Receiving a score of 12 or lower out of a possible 30

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under age 18

• Positive for any of the following drugs:

  • Amphetamines
  • Barbiturates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates
  • Phencyclidine metabolites (PCP), and tricyclic antidepressants
  • Cesarean delivery
  • EPDS score over 12 at prenatal screening test