Changes in sleep and biological rhythms from late pregnancy to
postpartum linked to depression and anxiety
The three-month period before and after giving birth is a vulnerable time
for women's mental health

Date:
January 18, 2022
Source:
McMaster University
Summary:
Researchers recruited 100 women, 73 of whom they followed from
the start of the third trimester to three months postpartum. They
analyzed subjective and objective measures of sleep, biological
rhythms, melatonin levels, and light exposure using a variety
of tools, including questionnaires, actigraphs (wearable sleep
monitors), laboratory assays, and other methods.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A set of parameters including sleep and biological rhythm variables are
closely associated with the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms, starting in the third trimester of pregnancy to the third postpartum
month, according to a new study.


==========================================================================
The three-month period before and after giving birth is a vulnerable
time for women's mental health. It is estimated that 15 to 18 per cent of
women experience anxiety and seven to 13 per cent experience depression
during this peripartum period. In addition, nearly 10 per cent of women experience clinical levels of comorbid anxiety and depression during
this time.

In the largest observational study to date investigating changes in
sleep and biological rhythms during the peripartum period, researchers identified several variables that are linked to depression and
anxiety. Most notably, changes in the circadian quotient (the strength of
the circadian rhythms), the average amount of activity during nighttime
rest, and the amount of fragmentation of nighttime rest were strongly
linked to higher depressive and anxiety symptoms.

"Our findings highlight the importance of stabilizing the internal
biological clock during the peripartum period to maintain healthy mood
and minimize anxiety," said Benicio Frey, senior author of the study and professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences
at McMaster University.

"Given the findings, future efforts should be made to standardize
evidence- based interventions targeting these biological rhythms
variables identified by our team, either as treatment or prevention strategies." Frey and his research team conducted the study from the
Women's Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. This
clinic specializes in psychiatric disorders during the peripartum, premenstrual, and perimenopausal periods.

Researchers recruited 100 women, 73 of whom they followed from
the start of the third trimester to three months postpartum. They
analyzed subjective and objective measures of sleep, biological rhythms, melatonin levels, and light exposure using a variety of tools, including questionnaires, actigraphs (wearable sleep monitors), laboratory assays,
and other methods.

Interestingly, the findings indicate that certain biological rhythms
variables may be important to depressive symptoms at specific points
along the peripartum timeline. For instance, higher fragmentation of
nighttime rest was linked to a decrease in depressive symptoms at six
to 12 weeks postpartum -- a period that tends to coincide with a higher
risk of developing postpartum depression.

Support for the study was provided in part by The Research Institute
of St.

Joe's Hamilton and the Teresa Cascioli Charitable Foundation Research
Award in Women's Health.

special promotion Explore the latest scientific research on sleep and
dreams in this free online course from New Scientist -- Sign_up_now_>>> academy.newscientist.com/courses/science-of-sleep-and-dreams ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by McMaster_University. Original written
by Fram Dinshaw.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Anastasiya Slyepchenko, Luciano Minuzzi, James P. Reilly, Benicio N.

Frey. Longitudinal Changes in Sleep, Biological Rhythms, and Light
Exposure From Late Pregnancy to Postpartum and Their Impact on
Peripartum Mood and Anxiety. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,
2022; 83 (2) DOI: 10.4088/JCP.21m13991 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220118145922.htm

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