Prospective Study of Epigenetic Biomarkers of Postpartum Depression
This study aims to investigate how biological and psychological factors during pregnancy contribute to the development of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, with approximately 295 participants enrolled as of 2021, all recruited from Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. Participants were recruited prospectively during pregnancy, at any trimester, through psychiatric interviews conducted by perinatal psychiatrists using DSM-IV criteria at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The cohort includes subgroups with histories of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and healthy controls. Participants are followed up at each trimester of pregnancy and again at 6 weeks postpartum, allowing for repeated assessments of mood, anxiety, sleep, and biological markers across the perinatal period.
Study design
Cohort, Cohort - clinical
Number of participants at first data collection
295 (participants, as of 2021)
Recruitment is ongoing
Age at first data collection
≥ 18 years (participants)
Participant year of birth
Varied (participants)
Participant sex
Female
Representative sample at baseline?
No
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
2017
Primary Institutions
Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
Profile paper DOI
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Interview – face-to-face
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- None
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- None
Engagement
Keywords
