Skalkidou Alkistis, Hellgren Charlotte, Comasco Erika, Sylvén Sara, Sundström Poromaa Inger
Department of Women's & Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
Womens Health (Lond). 2012 Nov;8(6):659-72. doi: 10.2217/whe.12.55.
In comparison with the vast epidemiological literature on postpartum depression (PPD), relatively few studies have examined the biological aspects of the disorder. However, research into the biological mechanisms of PPD is a challenging task, as normal pregnancy and the postpartum period cause adaptive endocrine changes, which would otherwise be considered pathological in nonpregnant women. This review focuses on the adaptive changes of childbearing and nursing, which ultimately may put women at increased risk of PPD. In light of the normal physiology, the authors also attempt to describe the current evidence of the biological changes associated with the development of depression in the postpartum period, including ovarian steroids, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the serotonergic neurotransmitter system, the thyroid system and inflammatory markers. In addition, current knowledge on candidate genes associated with PPD is reviewed.
与关于产后抑郁症（PPD）的大量流行病学文献相比，研究该疾病生物学方面的研究相对较少。然而，对PPD生物学机制的研究是一项具有挑战性的任务，因为正常怀孕和产后时期会引起适应性内分泌变化，而这些变化在未怀孕的女性中则会被视为病理性的。本综述聚焦于生育和哺乳的适应性变化，这些变化最终可能会使女性患PPD的风险增加。鉴于正常生理学，作者还试图描述与产后抑郁症发展相关的生物学变化的当前证据，包括卵巢类固醇、下丘脑 - 垂体 - 肾上腺轴、血清素能神经递质系统、甲状腺系统和炎症标志物。此外，还综述了与PPD相关的候选基因的当前知识。
