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The Role of Estrogen Therapy in Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders: An Update

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Salvatore Gentile
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Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of this review is to assess and summarize the existing literature data about the efficacy of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in preventing and treating postpartum psychiatric disorders.

Methods:

An extensive and unrestrictive computerized search (from 1970 to June 2005) on MEDLINE/PubMed, TOXNET, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases was conducted with the following search terms: estradiol, estrogen-treatment, hormonal treatment, therapy, postpartum depression, postnatal depression, puerperal depression, postpartum blues, postpartum psychosis, lactation, and breastfeeding.

Results:

In assessing available literature information about the role of ERT in preventing and treating puerperal psychiatric diseases, all reviewed studies were found to suffer from severe methodological limitations.

Conclusion:

Well-designed and strictly focused multicenter trials are warranted in order to firmly establish the effectiveness of ERT in puerperal psychiatric disorders.

Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 10 , Issue 12 , December 2005 , pp. 944 - 953
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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