A study released in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology found that women with long-term mental health problems at least three years after giving birth may suffer from immune system irregularities.
The study was conducted at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and PTSD two to three years post-delivery, and transcriptional control pathways relevant to inflammatory and antiviral processes,” according to researchers.
“Women over 18 years of age enrolled in ongoing research studies at Cedars Sinai Medical Center who were 2–3 years postpartum were invited to participate in the current study.”
The study showed that women with clinical symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD indicated “upregulation of genes activated by transcription control pathways associated with inflammation, including β-adrenergic responsive CREB and reduced activation of genes associated with the antiviral response and the glucocorticoid signaling pathway compared to women without clinical symptoms.”
