Pregnancy, depression, and acupuncture.

• Author: Lee, William
• Position: Psychology

DEPRESSION ALWAYS has been a relatively common condition in pregnancy. According to a report by the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, between 14% and 23% of pregnant women experience depressive symptoms, and approximately 13% take an antidepressant at some point when expecting. Research published in the British Medical Journal suggests that prenatal depression even may be more common than depression after the baby is born.

Until recently, research into prenatal depression has been minimal, as it has been a commonly held belief that the condition of being pregnant was protective from depression and despondency; women accepted the emotional ups and downs during this period as normal and suffered in silence, as practitioners have been more likely to look at postnatal depression since the screening for depression during pregnancy is not common practice.

Hormonal changes are one reason women can experience depression during pregnancy. Although there is not enough evidence to say definitively that this may be a cause of prenatal depression, it is the most common reason given to women who ask, "Why do I feel this way?" During pregnancy, brain chemicals can change, which directly can affect hormones that are related to depression and anxiety.

Other possibilities for experiencing depression can be linked to various factors, including stress, health issues during pregnancy, relationship difficulties, financial worries, and even doubts about the pregnancy itself.

Whatever the reasons for prenatal depression, the condition can present complications. One study has shown that distress in late pregnancy may be associated with preterm delivery. Although psychiatrists have noted that stress and anxiety felt by a mother do have an impact on an unborn baby's heart rate patterns, not enough research exists to know whether the mother's stress causes any significant consequences for the unborn child.

Treatment of depression and anxiety is important in maintaining the pregnancy. There is evidence to indicate that high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression can cause an alteration in hormone levels, such as cortisol, and may affect the health of the feats adversely, resulting in miscarriage.

In a study published in the Journal of Women's Health, lead author Sheila M. Marcus re ports that, of the women who said they were depressed during pregnancy, 86% had not received any formal treatment, such as...