Investigation and Analysis of Emotional State and Oxytocin Level in Patients with Postpartum Depression

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental disorder in postpartum women, negatively impacting physical and mental health. Correlation analysis can predict the relationship between variables. By detecting the abnormal level of oxytocin, clinicians can timely know the emotional states of parturients to guide clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional states and oxytocin (OT) levels in patients with PPD.

Materials and Methods: The medical records of 166 PPD patients admitted to Cangzhou Central Hospital from May 2020 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. After excluding 9 patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria, the remaining 157 patients were included in this study. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Patient Health Questionaire-9 items were used to evaluate the emotional states of 157 patients, and the included subjects were grouped according to the results of the scale. The serum OT levels of patients was measured, and the relationship between the OT levels and emotional states was analyzed.

Results: In this study, 75 patients were included in the mild anxiety group, and 82 patients were included in the moderate and severe anxiety group. Seventy-nine patients were selected as the mild depression group, and 78 patients were included in the moderate and severe depression group. The mild anxiety group had a higher OT level than the moderate and severe anxiety group (Z = –10.121, p < 0.001). The mild depression group had a higher OT level than the moderate and severe depression group (Z = –9.758, p < 0.001). OT level was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression scores (r = –0.676, r = –0.665, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: There is a specific relationship between the emotional states of PPD patients and the OT levels in the body, and active clinical management strategies need to be implemented.