Alder E M, Cox J L
J Psychosom Res. 1983;27(2):139-44. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(83)90090-9.
Hormonal factors have been suggested as a cause of post-natal depression, but suckling frequency which is the major influence on hormone levels post-partum has not been considered in previous studies. Eighty-nine women who had taken part in a prospective study of post-natal depression were asked about their feeding patterns 18 months after childbirth. Half the mothers who were breast feeding introduced solids or artificial milk feeds before 12 weeks and were likely to have lowered prolactin levels and increased ovarian follicular activity. Mothers who totally breastfed their babies for at least 12 weeks or who were on the pill, had a higher incidence of post-natal depression than those who were not on the pill or who partially breastfed. Among the 62 women who attempted breast feeding those most likely to have normal levels of endogenous hormones were those least likely to have depressive symptoms.
激素因素被认为是产后抑郁症的一个原因，但以往的研究并未考虑哺乳频率这一对产后激素水平有主要影响的因素。89名参与产后抑郁症前瞻性研究的女性在产后18个月被问及她们的喂养方式。一半进行母乳喂养的母亲在12周前就开始添加固体食物或人工奶喂养，这可能导致催乳素水平降低和卵巢卵泡活性增加。完全母乳喂养婴儿至少12周的母亲或服用避孕药的母亲，产后抑郁症的发病率高于未服用避孕药或部分母乳喂养的母亲。在62名尝试母乳喂养的女性中，最有可能具有正常内源性激素水平的女性最不容易出现抑郁症状。
