Is perinatal depression familial?

Murphy-Eberenz, Kathleen; Zandi, Peter P.; March, Dana; Crowe, Raymond R.; Scheftner, William A.; Alexander, Madeline; McInnis, Melvin G.; Coryell, William; Adams, Philip; DePaulo, J. Raymond; Miller, Erin B.; Marta, Diana H.; Potash, James B.; Payne, Jennifer; Levinson, Douglas F.

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2005.10.006

« Previous Next »Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 90, Issue 1 , Pages 49-55, January 2006

Is perinatal depression familial?

Kathleen Murphy-Eberenz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, United States
Peter P. Zandi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
Dana March
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
Raymond R. Crowe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, IW, United States
William A. Scheftner
- Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
Madeline Alexander
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, United States
Melvin G. McInnis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
William Coryell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, IW, United States
Philip Adams
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
J. Raymond DePaulo Jr.
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
Erin B. Miller
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
Diana H. Marta
- Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
James B. Potash
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States
Jennifer Payne
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States
Douglas F. Levinson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, United States
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Room 4006, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, United States. Tel.: +1 215 746 5151; fax: +1 215 746 5155.

Received 14 March 2005; accepted 17 October 2005.

Abstract

Background

While major depressive disorder (MDD) is familial, it is not clear whether distinct familial-genetic factors influence vulnerability to depression during or after pregnancy. Here we examine familial aggregation of perinatal major depression (PND, any episode during pregnancy or the month after childbirth) and the subset of post-partum depression (PPD) in families with multiple cases of recurrent, early-onset MDD from the Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Depression dataset.

Methods

The dataset included 691 childbearing women who could be classified as PND (27.6%) or non-PND (NPND), of whom 328 were members of 148 sibships with two or more PND or NPND women. PND and NPND subjects were compared for differences in putative predictors. Prediction of sibling PND or PPD by the proband's history was examined using logistic regression and general estimating equation methods.

Results

PND was associated with fewer episodes and younger current age. Odds ratios for prediction of sibling status were significant for PND (2.28) and PPD (3.96), particularly when current age was under 46 (2.87 and 4.39, respectively). ORs for PPD were not significantly different from those for PND. The OR for PPD (3.52), but not for PND, remained significant after current age was introduced as a covariate, but not when both current age and number of episodes were included in the model.

Limitations

Because detailed data were not collected for all pregnancies, we cannot determine whether current age and number of episodes mediated the observed effects due to recall bias or other factors (cohort effect, number of episodes).

Conclusions

A familial component to PND, and particularly PPD, is suggested by the results. However more systematic study is needed to confirm this result. A greater understanding of both genetic and non-genetic familial factors could lead to improved prevention and clinical management.

Keywords: Perinatal depression, Postpartum depression, Family study, Major depression