@article{ref1,
title="Altered stress patterns and increased risk for postpartum depression among low-income pregnant women",
journal="Archives of women's mental health",
year="2015",
author="Scheyer, Kathryn and Jr, Guido G. Urizar",
volume="19",
number="2",
pages="317-328",
abstract="Postpartum depression (PPD) has been associated with a number of negative maternal and infant health outcomes. Despite these adverse health effects, few studies have prospectively examined patterns of pre- and postnatal stress that may increase a woman's risk for PPD. The current study examined whether the timing of altered salivary cortisol patterns and perceived stress levels during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum was associated with PPD symptoms among 100 low-income mothers. Higher levels of PPD were found among women with a lower cortisol awakening response (first and second trimester), lower average daily cortisol (second trimester), a flatter diurnal cortisol pattern (second and third trimester and at 3 months postpartum), and a less abrupt drop in both cortisol and perceived stress from the third trimester to 3 months postpartum. These results support the need for early screening and regulation of stress levels to promote depression prevention efforts in at-risk populations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1434-1816",
doi="10.1007/s00737-015-0563-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0563-7"
}