Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Synthetic oxytocin during labor reduces postpartum depression incidence among new mothers.
Synthetic oxytocin (synOT) during childbirth is linked to a decreased risk of maternal postpartum depression (PPD), as deciphered from a prospective study. The study involved 904 women who delivered at the hospital and were evaluated on the second day after childbirth. Of these, 609 women (67.36%) received synOT to either induce or augment labor, while 295 women (32.63%) did not receive synOT during delivery.
PPD was assessed using the widely accepted Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with results showing that 26.10% of the participants met the criteria for PPD, while 73.89% did not exhibit depressive symptoms. Importantly, the data showed that women who received synOT had a significantly lower rate of PPD compared to those who did not (p < 0.001). Additionally, those treated with synOT tended to be younger and spent fewer days hospitalized postpartum, both statistically significant differences (p < 0.001).
The study also noted that synOT administration was more common among first-time mothers and those who delivered spontaneously (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that synOT could play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of PPD. The hormone’s influence on social behavior may help mediate emotional well-being after childbirth, offering a potential strategy to support mothers vulnerable to PPD. Further research is encouraged to explore the mechanisms behind this association and to confirm whether synOT administration could be integrated into postpartum care protocols for mental health benefits.
Psychiatry International
Intrapartum Synthetic Oxytocin as a Potential Mediator for Postpartum Depression
Silvia Onuc et al.
Comments (0)