It is one of the biggest problems among mothers of newborns. But postpartum depression may have its days numbered, thanks to new discoveries.
Postpartum depression is one of the most common problems among new mothers. But that could be about to change.
This type of depression usually occurs in the first few weeks after giving birth, when there is a sudden drop in the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. As scientists uncover the chemical and genetic changes caused by these hormonal changes, they are discovering new ways to diagnose and treat postpartum depression.
This winter, in what it calls a major breakthrough, a startup based in San Diego, USA, will launch a blood test that predicts the risk of postpartum depression in pregnant women with more than 80% accuracy.
It’s called myLuma and will be the first commercially available test to use biomarkers.
“If we do a blood test, it takes psychiatry to the level of biology, which I think the average person can understand as something that needs treatment and is not just in someone’s head,” says Jennifer Payne, a psychiatrist and founder of the company that created the device.
“It is possible to predict which women will develop postpartum depression.” says Zachary Kaminsky, researcher at the Institute for Mental Health Research at the University of Ottawa.
A big step for those giving birth and suffering from this problem in all parts of the world.
