Circadian phase shifts and mood across the perinatal period in women with a history of major depressive disorder: A preliminary communication

May 28, 2013Journal of affective disorders

Changes in daily body clock and mood during pregnancy and after birth in women with past major depression

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Abstract

Nine out of twelve women experienced DLMO phase shifts of 30 minutes or more during the perinatal period.

On average, new mothers experienced a phase delay of 42 minutes in their circadian rhythms.
Most participants went to bed closer to the onset of melatonin secretion at 6 weeks postpartum compared to the third trimester.
Circadian measures were associated with depressed mood at postpartum weeks 2 and 6.
Individual differences were noted in the magnitude and direction of circadian phase shifts throughout the perinatal period.
These preliminary findings may suggest a link between changes in circadian rhythms and postpartum mood disorders.

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BACKGROUND: Perinatal changes in maternal sleep patterns may modify circadian phase. Our objectives were to (a) measure changes in circadian phase and phase angle between salivary dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) and sleep onset across the perinatal period; and (b) prospectively examine associations between circadian measures and depressed mood in women with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS: Twelve women (age±SD=26.9±5 years) who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for history of MDD (but not in a mood episode at enrollment) were studied from third trimester of pregnancy through postpartum week 6. Participants completed sleep diaries, wore wrist actigraphs and light sensors, and had mood assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) during 3 separate weeks of the perinatal period; they gave saliva samples at 33 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum to determine DLMO phase.

RESULTS: Nine women had DLMO phase shifts ≥30 min. On average±SD, new mothers phase delayed 42±80 min (range=163 min phase delay to 144 min phase advance). The time interval between average actigraphic sleep onset and DLMO was shorter at 6 weeks postpartum compared to 3rd trimester in 9 of 12 women, indicating that most new mothers were going to bed closer to the onset of endogenous melatonin secretion. Circadian measures were associated with depressed mood at postpartum weeks 2 and 6.

LIMITATIONS: These data are preliminary findings from a small sample and require replication.

CONCLUSIONS: We observed individual differences in magnitude and direction of circadian phase shifts and their timing relative to sleep across the perinatal period. These measures were correlated with postpartum depressive symptoms. These preliminary data indicate that changes in perinatal circadian rhythms may contribute to the development of postpartum mood disorders.

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Circadian phase shifts and mood across the perinatal period in women with a history of major depressive disorder: A preliminary communication

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