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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312242
Title: Oxytocin and postpartum depression: Delivering on what's known and what's not

Author
item KIM, SOHYE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SOEKEN, TIMOTHY - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item CROMER, SARA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item MARTINEZ, SHEILA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item HARDY, LEAH - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item STRATHEARN, LANE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Brain Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2013
Publication Date: 11/14/2013
Citation: Kim, S., Soeken, T.A., Cromer, S.J., Martinez, S.R., Hardy, L.R., Strathearn, L. 2013. Oxytocin and postpartum depression: Delivering on what's known and what's not. Brain Research. 1580:219-232.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The role of oxytocin in the treatment of postpartum depression has been a topic of growing interest. This subject carries important implications, given that postpartum depression can have detrimental effects on both the mother and her infant, with life long consequences for infant socioemotional and cognitive development. In recent years, oxytocin has received attention for its potential role in many neuropsychiatric conditions beyond its well-described functions in childbirth and lactation. In the present review, we present available data on the clinical characteristics and neuroendocrine foundations of postpartum depression. We outline current treatment modalities and their limitations, and proceed to evaluate the potential role of oxytocin in the treatment of postpartum depression. The aim of the present review is two-fold:(a)to bring together evidence from animal and human research concerning the role of oxytocin in postpartum depression, and (b) to highlight areas that deserve further research in order to bring a fuller understanding of oxytocin's therapeutic potential.