Sertraline for the Prevention of Recurrent Postpartum Depression

University of Pittsburgh

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Conditions

Depression

Treatments

Drug: Sertraline

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00276900

R01MH053735 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

DSIR 83-ATP

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will determine the effectiveness of taking sertraline within 24 hours of giving birth in preventing a recurrence of postpartum depression.

Full description

Depression after pregnancy is called postpartum depression and may be caused by a rapid change in hormone levels during and immediately after pregnancy. Researchers believe that it is one of the most common complications linked to pregnancy. This type of depression occurs in 10 to 15% of women within the first 3 months of giving birth and it can negatively affect both mothers and their children. Mothers with postpartum depression may experience low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and inability to meet their children's needs for love and affection. Research shows that children of mothers with postpartum depression may have delays in language development, difficulty with emotional bonding to others, behavioral problems, lower activity levels, sleep problems, and distress. Many women who have suffered from postpartum depression in the past are worried about a repeat episode with the birth of their next baby. This study will determine the effectiveness of taking sertraline within 24 hours of giving birth in preventing a recurrence of postpartum depression.

Participants in this double blind study will initially report to the study site two separate times while they are pregnant. At the first visit, which will last approximately 3 hours, medical and psychiatric histories will be taken. Blood and urine samples will also be collected at this time. At the second visit, which will last approximately 1 hour, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either sertraline or placebo for the year following childbirth. All participants will then either attend 10 clinic visits, each lasting 1 hour, or receive 17 phone calls over the course of the first 28 weeks postpartum. Mood symptoms and day-to-day functioning will be assessed. If the participant's baby is being breastfed, a blood sample will also be taken from the baby at Week 4 postpartum. At Week 12 postpartum, the baby will wear an actigraph to measure his or her activity for one week. At Week 24 postpartum, participants who are not depressed will be randomly assigned to either continue on sertraline or taper to placebo over 4 weeks. Those who were originally assigned to receive placebo will continue taking placebo for the remainder of the study. Starting at Week 29 postpartum, there will be approximately one clinic visit per month for the remainder of the year. Participants' functioning, ability to interact with their children, and symptoms of depression will be assessed at these visits.

Sex

Female

Ages

18 to 45 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Pregnant
Presents by week 36 gestation for first two study visit interviews (interviews may be combined)
History of DSM-IV Major Depression after the age of 15
Score no higher than 19 on the 29-item SIGH-ADS at Week 36
Medically healthy, as determined by a physician

Exclusion criteria

Current major depression
Urine screen positive for drugs
Currently using other therapies for depression
DSM-IV diagnoses of bipolar 1 or 2 disorder or any psychotic episode
History of substance abuse within 6 months prior to study entry
Has not received any obstetrical care
Use of medications for medical disorders (except for treatment of stable disorders)