Dear Lactneters, Buring the mindnight oil tonight looking for some info on the incidence of postpartum depression in breastfeeding and bottle feeding mothers. Found plenty of info about the general incidence PPD, but would really like some good data which specifically adresses a difference between the two modes of feeding. I found these two abstracts which might be of interest, but am really looking for some larger studies. Does anyone know of any larger studies? I've checked the archives and medline and I don't think I've missed anything - but just incase? yours Sara Bernard The Netherlands 1: Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1998 Jul;23(5):465-75. Hormonal aspects of postpartum depression. Abou-Saleh MT, Ghubash R, Karim L, Krymski M, Bhai I. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Plasma cortisol, prolactin, oestrogen, progesterone, thyroxine, thyrotrophin (TSH) were collected from 23 pregnant, 70 postpartum women at 7 days postpartum, and 38 non-gravid controls. Sixty two postpartum women were screened for depression by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) on day 7 after delivery and 34 of them were assessed by the Present State Examination (PSE) at 8 +/- 2 weeks after delivery. Postpartum women had a significantly greater level of cortisol, prolactin, thyroxine and oestrogen than non-puerperal women. Postpartum women with current depression (EPDS > or = 11) had significantly lower plasma prolactin levels than those without depression and those who developed depression within 6-10 weeks after delivery (PSE level > or = 5) had significantly lower plasma prolactin and significantly greater progesterone levels than those who were not depressed. There were significant correlations between age and plasma cortisol and prolactin levels. Higher thyroxine levels predicted greater severity of concurrent symptoms of depression (total EPDS score) whilst higher progesterone and lower prolactin levels predicted the occurrence of depression (total PSE score) 6-10 weeks after delivery. Women who breastfed had significantly lower EPDS and total PSE scores and higher plasma prolactin levels than those who did not breastfed their infants whilst women who had previous episodes of depression had significantly greater EPDS and PSE scores, lower prolactin and higher TSH levels than those who had not suffered from previous episodes of depression. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 1995;22(4):321-5. Mood and hormonal changes during late pregnancy and puerperium. Asher I, Kaplan B, Modai I, Neri A, Valevski A, Weizman A. Sha'ar Menashe Psychiatric Hospital, Hadera. The present study was designed to assess the relationship between puerperal hormonal changes and mood. Twenty-five postpartum physically and mentally healthy, drug-free women were included in the study; seven later dropped out. Blood samples 'were drawn between 8 and 9 a.m. just prior to delivery, and again three days after delivery, before discharge. Blood levels of LH TSH, FSH, estrogen and prolactin were determined. Three days after delivery, a psychiatric interview was conducted during which psychometric rating scales (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scales, and Beck Depression Inventory) were completed. The rate of change in hormonal blood levels was analyzed in relation to the scores on the rating scales. Results showed that the rise in prolactin plasma levels had a negative and significant correlation with the scores on the Hamilton anxiety scale. This may indicate that high prolactin plasma levels, associated with milk production, may lead to lower anxiety levels in lactating women. *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html