Studies of mothers with postnatal depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Studies of mothers with postnatal depression
IRAS ID
212606
Contact name
Peter Fonagy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Postnatal depression is a major public mental health issue globally, affecting as many as 12% of new mothers. Despite this, recent evidence has found that less than half of cases of postnatal depression are recognised and in almost half of the UK new mothers have no access to specialist perinatal mental health services, leaving themselves and their new child at risk. Infants of mothers with postnatal depression are also a high priority for support because they are at increased risk for social developmental difficulties and long-term mental health problems. In particular, such infants show changes in the early precursors of attachment such as emotion-regulation, reduced eye contact towards their mother and lower levels of the hormone oxytocin (a possible index of trust) and higher levels of cortisol (a possible index of stress). Recent research has identified the oxytocin pathway plays a key role in the transmission of these trans-generational vulnerabilities and attachment difficulties.
The proposed program of research comprises 2 mechanistic studies: (1) A comparison of oxytocin levels in breast milk in mothers with and without postnatal depression; (2) Investigating the effects of a single dose of oxytocin delivered via a nasal spray in women with and without postnatal depression.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0082
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion