Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: depression and + pregnancy depression + pregnancy  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/7/2008)

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Pregnancy and depression

PREGNANCY

Calcium supplements may help reduce serious complications.

THE QUESTION: Some pregnant women develop preeclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure and extra protein in the urine and is dangerous to their health and their baby's. No one knows what triggers this condition, but one theory points to calcium deficiency. Might calcium supplements offer protection?

THIS STUDY involved 8,325 women who were less than 20 weeks' pregnant and considered likely to be taking in less than 600 milligrams a day of calcium. They were randomly assigned to take daily calcium supplements (1,500 milligrams) or placebos until the end of their pregnancies. About 4 percent of both groups developed preeclampsia. But the more serious complications of the disorder — including severe gestational hypertension and the potentially fatal eclampsia — occurred 24 percent less often in those who had taken calcium. Newborn deaths occurred 30 percent less often in the calcium group.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Pregnant women who are calcium-deficient. (Adults need 800 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily; pregnant women should take in at least 1,200 milligrams.) Preeclampsia, which occurs in about 4 percent of pregnancies, is the leading cause of death for pregnant women and fetuses in the United States.

CAVEATS: The dietary calcium intake of some women in the study may have been higher than the researchers had assumed. The study did not explain why calcium did not deter the development of preeclampsia but did affect its more serious complications.

FIND THIS STUDY: March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology; article available online at www.ajog.org.

Information

Learn more about preeclampsia: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health (search for "pregnancy") and www.mayoclinic.com.

DEPRESSION

Longer-term drug use seems to help more than psychotherapy.

THE QUESTION: Persistent sadness can strike at any age, but when it occurs in older people, it often returns even after successful treatment. Might continued antidepressant use or psychotherapy keep recurrences at bay?

THIS STUDY involved 116 people aged 70 or older for whom treatment with Paxil (paroxetine) and psychotherapy had quelled their depression. They were randomly assigned for continued treatment to one of four groups: Paxil or a placebo daily, the drug with a monthly psychotherapy session or the placebo with monthly psychotherapy. People without psychotherapy had monthly sessions to review symptoms. After two years, those taking the drug fared best. Depression had recurred in 35 to 37 percent of people taking Paxil — with or without psychotherapy — compared with 68 percent of the placebo group and 58 percent of the placebo-plus-psychotherapy group.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Depression affects 15 percent of people over age 65 in the United States, but it is not considered a normal part of growing old.

CAVEATS: Earlier studies have shown more positive results for psychotherapy; the authors said many participants in this study may have been in the early stages of dementia, which would have inhibited their ability to respond to such therapy. GlaxoSmithKline provided the study's drugs; two of 18 authors had received fees from the company.

FIND THIS STUDY: March 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine; abstract available online at www.nejm.org.

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult a physician.