The Effects of Ibuprofen Consumption on the Incidence of Postpartum Depression.

OBJECTIVES

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and debilitating psychiatric condition whose etiology is yet to be fully elucidated. Anti-inflammatory medications have been shown to be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder but there have only been a few trials examining whether anti-inflammatory medications can serve as effective prophylactic agents against the development of major depressive disorder. Prophylaxis against PPD with anti-inflammatory agents has never been studied.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We performed a prospective observational trial examining whether consumption of higher doses of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen is associated with a lower incidence of PPD. We recruited high-risk women and collected data on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System pain scale and clinical assessment of PPD at postpartum weeks 0, 3, and 6. Subjects were instructed to keep a log of medication consumed.

RESULTS

When looking at the total sample, we found that higher consumption of ibuprofen was associated with lower incidence of PPD, although this result was nonsignificant (P = 0.26). When we stratified by concurrent psychotropic medication, we found that among women not taking psychotropic medications, higher consumption of ibuprofen at week 3 was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of having PPD at week 3 (P = 0.03).

DISCUSSION: We found that ibuprofen consumption was significantly associated with a reduced risk of development of PPD at week 3 among high-risk women not taking psychotropic medications.