Survey study, 2022
Does emotional processing change through the cycle if someone had postpartum depression?
Yes. Women with a history of postpartum depression showed depression-like thinking patterns during the late luteal phase, like dwelling on negative self-views and remembering sad information better. Healthy women did not show this pattern.
What they did
Thirty-two women with a history of postpartum depression and 43 women without were studied during the late follicular and late luteal phases. They completed computer tasks measuring attention to emotional words, self-focused thinking, and memory for emotions, plus questionnaires.
What they found
Women with postpartum depression history showed depression-like patterns on most tasks (negative self-evaluation and better recall of sad information) specifically during the late luteal phase. These menstrual-phase differences were not found in healthy women or on all tasks measured. The depression-like thinking patterns did not correspond with changes in self-reported mood.
What it means for you
Women who experienced postpartum depression may process emotions differently depending on their menstrual cycle phase, suggesting sensitivity to hormone fluctuations. However, thinking pattern changes didn't match mood changes, so the connection is complex. This is a small study and cannot prove cause and effect.
32
women with postpartum depression history
43
women without postpartum depression
2
menstrual phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Cognitive processing of emotional information during menstrual phases in women with and without postpartum depression: differential sensitivity to changes in gonadal steroids
- Authors
- Bloch M, Helpman L, Gilboa-Schechtman E et al.
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2022
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 43
- What was tested
- Cognitive testing (no treatment tested)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-022-01235-7
Topics
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