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Columbia University |
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Light Therapy for Depression During Pregnancy (Antepartum Depression)Beyond the expected physical annoyances of pregnancy (sleep problems, frequent urination, appetite changes, burden of new weight, and so on) pregnant mothers may face emotional changes that seriously affect their mood, energy, work and social life, and motivation. In other words, serious depression can be associated with pregnancy. Technically, it is called "antepartum depression," and it affects as many as 10% of pregnant mothers. Medication treatment of antepartum depression depends on a risk/benefit analysis. The decision must weigh the severity of the depression and consider how drugs might affect the fetus. An alternative non-drug treatment strategy, bright light therapy, is also undergoing clinical trials at three university clinical centers (Columbia, Yale, and Case Western Reserve). Initial results have been very promising (see case study link in the menu to the right) and were submitted for publication in a major medical journal in the summer 1999.
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If you think you may be suffering from antepartum
depression, and live in the Connecticut, New York-New Jersey, or
Cleveland areas, you are eligible to apply as a volunteer for the light
therapy study. E-mail your confidential inquiry to the center in your
area, briefly describing your symptoms of depression, current treatment
(if any), medical conditions (if any), and stage of pregnancy (month):
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan, lightion@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu Yale University, New Haven, CT, neill.epperson@yale.edu Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH ksp5e@po.cwru.edu Please specify in your email that you are interested in the "Antepartum Depression Study" and make sure to provide your full name and mailing address, as well as a phone number that we may use to contact you if necessary. All information you provide is held in strict confidence. (Because this is still an exploratory treatment approach, light therapy is not yet widely offered as an open treatment for antepartum depression in clinical practice.) |
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