Study Reveals Women May Have Depression and Anxiety Despite Medication

According to research, taking anti-depressants does not always help alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety among expecting moms and new moms. This new study entitled Optimizing Medication Management for Mothers with Depression (OPTI-MOM) shows that many women suffer from symptoms of depression and anxiety either while pregnant or during postpartum. This, despite their choice, to continue taking antidepressants, according to one of the study's senior authors, Dr. Katherine Wisner.

Wisner, who also directs the Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said that this new research emphasizes that women taking medication to address their depression and anxiety have to be constantly monitored both during pregnancy and postpartum. The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate how their respective treatments can be adjusted or tailored to alleviate their symptoms.

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The study methodology

For said research, 88 women from the United States participated and completed assessments every four weeks during pregnancy and until they delivered their child. During the sixth week postpartum and another in the fourteenth week after delivery, there were also evaluations.

Women who participated were 18 to 45 years old and were pregnant for less than or at 18 weeks gestation. They also had a subtype of any DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and were taking sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), or citalopram (Celexa) or escitalopram (Lexapro) and have decided to push through with their medication throughout pregnancy.

The study showed that 18 percent of the pregnant women who participated in the research had minimal symptoms of depression, while 50 percent had mild symptoms. According to the study, 32 percent of the participants had clinically relevant symptoms of depression during pregnancy.

Lingering Depression despite medication

Despite taking antidepression medication, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, it was observed that pregnant women had lingering feelings of depression and anxiety not just during pregnancy but even postpartum, as per the SciTech Daily. Women also had worsening symptoms over time. Based on the data, pregnant women who took SSRIs to treat their symptoms also showed poor health, including thyroid disorders, asthma, infertility, migraines, and elevated body mass index.

According to Dr. Catherine Stika, an OB-GYN clinical professor at Northwestern, psychological and psychosocial factors fluctuate and change throughout childbearing. Clinicians may adapt and change the type of medication or the intensity level of medication or intervention until depression symptoms improve if repeated screenings are employed.

The result of the study is crucial as it was also noted that depression affects babies as well. Tailoring the medication or treatment may help in improving both the mother and child's condition. According to Dr. Wisner, children exposed to a depressed mother have higher chances of acquiring childhood developmental disorders as there are higher risks.

The research was in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Magee Women's Hospital; The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

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