Does birth experience moderate genetic risk for PND? Version 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study to investigate whether the mother’s birth experience moderates her genetic susceptibility to postnatal depression.
IRAS ID
172989
Contact name
Marlene Sinclair
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
For most women giving birth and becoming a mother is a wonderful and fulfilling experience, however, for some women this is not the case. The Maternal Mental Health Alliance in their 2014 Report for Northern Ireland indicated that one out of every ten new mothers was likely to develop postnatal depression (PND). These mothers' experience low self-esteem, poor concentration, inability to sleep, poor appetite, and in rare cases may harm themselves or their baby. The impact of PND can be felt throughout the entire family unit affecting the partner and having an impact on the baby’s development that can be lifelong.
A range of genetic and epigenetic markers have been shown to be associated with postnatal depression in the presence of environmental factors such as stressful life events or childhood neglect. Knowing that an individual has a familial or genetic susceptibility to depression is important in ensuring early intervention and also in choosing the best medical management However, there is also a benefit to being able to identify environmental factors that will contribute to whether the individual develops the illness or not. Studies that identify environmental conditions that moderate genetic risks can guide the development of interventions to prevent and treat mental illness.
This study is funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Employment and Learning and is being undertaken in the Maternal Fetal and Infant Research Centre at Ulster University. It will provide new knowledge about the relationship between a woman’s birth experience and her underlying biological make-up. We intend to explore women’s biological, environmental and birth experience to identify factors that interact and may lead to depression. In the future, we hope to develop a blood test to identify a woman’s risk of developing postnatal depression.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0226
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion