First episode depression during the perinatal period is associated with atopic diseases and persistently increased eosinophil and basophil levels

En-Young N Wagner; Eva Maria Pichler; Mario Müller; Andrea Eisenhut; Ana Buadze; Yanhua Xu; Erich Seifritz; Marie-Pierre F Strippoli; Enrique Castelao; Setareh Ranjbar; Jennifer Glaus; Caroline Vandeleur; Martin Preisig; Roland von Känel; Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross

doi:10.1007/s00737-024-01522-5

First episode depression during the perinatal period is associated with atopic diseases and persistently increased eosinophil and basophil levels

Arch Womens Ment Health. 2024 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s00737-024-01522-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Haldenbachstrasse 16/18, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland. en-young.wagner@uzh.ch.
² Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Services Aargau, Windisch, Switzerland.
³ Department of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Epidemiology and Psychopathology Research Center, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Prilly, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁶ Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Haldenbachstrasse 16/18, CH-8091, Zurich, Switzerland.

PMID: 39412540
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01522-5

Abstract

Purpose: A previous diagnosis of depression is a strong predictor for perinatal depression, apart from other mental disorders, stress, and atopies. It is less clear which factors interfere if perinatal depression occurs as a first depression episode (fePND).

Methods: We examined the associations with atopies and related blood parameters using data of CoLaus|PsyCoLaus.

Results: Newly occurring depression during the perinatal period but not recurrent depression was associated with a lifetime diagnosis of allergies and asthma together with persistently increased levels of basophils and eosinophils.

Conclusion: The results imply that immune function may play a relevant role in the risk of a fePND. If confirmed and detailed, these findings could serve as the basis for designing preliminary prevention strategies by observing eosinophil and basophil levels as well as symptoms of atopic diseases before/during pregnancy.

Keywords: Atopy; Basophils; Depression; Eosinophils; Perinatal.

Abstract

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