Postpartum depression
diseaseOn this page
Also known as depression, post-Nataldepression, post-partumdepression, postnataldepressive episode with postpartum onsetmajor depressive episode with peripartum onsetpost Natal depressionpost partum depressionpost-Natal depressionpost-partum depressionpostnatal depression
Summary
Postpartum depression (MONDO:0005929) is a disease with 7 GWAS associations across 9 studies and 382 clinical trials. Top therapeutic interventions include brexanolone, estradiol, and esketamine. A subtype of depressive disorder — broader associated-gene and molecular evidence is on the parent page (see Disease family below).
At a glance
- GWAS associations: 7
- Clinical trials: 382
Clinical features
No curated clinical features (Orphanet) for this disease.
Identifiers
Disease identifiers
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | postpartum depression |
| Mondo ID | MONDO:0005929 |
| EFO | EFO:0007453 |
| MeSH | D019052 |
| DOID | DOID:9478 |
| ICD-10-CM | F53.0 |
| NCIT | C92852 |
| SNOMED CT | 279225001 |
| UMLS | C0221074 |
| MedGen | 66359 |
| Is cancer (heuristic) | no |
Also known as: depression, post-Natal · depression, post-partum · depression, postnatal · depressive episode with postpartum onset · major depressive episode with peripartum onset · post Natal depression · post partum depression · post-Natal depression · post-partum depression · postnatal depression · postpartum depression
Data availability: 7 GWAS associations (9 studies).
Disease family
This is a subtype of depressive disorder. Genetic, therapeutic, and trial evidence is largely curated at the broader-term level — see the parent page for the associated-gene cohort and molecular evidence.
Classification path: disease › human disease › disease by developmental or physiological process › psychiatric disorder › mental disorder › mood disorder › depressive disorder › postpartum depression
Related subtypes (6): seasonal affective disorder, major depressive disorder, melancholia, bipolar depression, neurotic depression, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder
Genetics & variants
GWAS landscape
7 GWAS associations across 9 studies. Top hits map to 2 distinct genes (as reported by GWAS).
Top associations by p-value
| rsID | p-value | Gene | Risk allele | Odds ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rs6436132 | 3e-09 | PTPRN | T | 3.34 |
| rs184644645 | 9e-09 | RAD51B | TTATG | 4.88 |
| rs6028719 | 2e-08 | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | T | 1.85 |
| rs6028721 | 2e-08 | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | G | 1.85 |
| rs6028723 | 2e-08 | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | C | 1.85 |
| rs34294182 | 2e-08 | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | C | 1.85 |
| rs6129447 | 4e-08 | HSPE1P1 - LINC01370 | C | 1.83 |
Top studies (by case count)
| Study | Lead author | Year | Cases | Controls | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCST90245821 | Changalidis AI | 2022 | 14,226 | 102,414 | Aggregation of Genome-Wide Association Data from FinnGen and UK Biobank Replicates Multiple Risk Loci for Pregnancy Complications. |
| GCST90078466 | Backman JD | 2021 | 5,752 | 39,705 | Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants. |
| GCST90082452 | Backman JD | 2021 | 5,752 | 39,705 | Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants. |
| GCST90079816 | Backman JD | 2021 | 2,567 | 204,976 | Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants. |
| GCST90083802 | Backman JD | 2021 | 2,567 | 204,976 | Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants. |
| GCST90077920 | Backman JD | 2021 | 547 | 331,207 | Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants. |
| GCST90081906 | Backman JD | 2021 | 547 | 331,207 | Exome sequencing and analysis of 454,787 UK Biobank participants. |
| GCST90624430 | Tebeka S | 2024 | 234 | 1,204 | Genome-wide association study of early-onset and late-onset postpartum depression: the IGEDEPP prospective study. |
| GCST90624431 | Tebeka S | 2024 | 223 | 1,204 | Genome-wide association study of early-onset and late-onset postpartum depression: the IGEDEPP prospective study. |
Variant details and genetic-evidence tiers
Tier distribution (top 50 variants)
| Tier | Variants |
|---|---|
| Tier 1: coding | 0 |
| Tier 2: splice/UTR | 0 |
| Tier 3: regulatory | 0 |
| Tier 4: intronic/intergenic | 7 |
MAF distribution
| Bucket | Variants |
|---|---|
| common (>=0.05) | 7 |
| low_freq (0.01-0.05) | 0 |
| rare (<0.01) | 0 |
| unknown | 0 |
Functional consequences
| Consequence | Count |
|---|---|
| intergenic_variant | 5 |
| intron_variant | 2 |
Top variants
| rsID | Chr | Pos | Alleles | MAF | Consequence | Gene | p-value | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rs6436132 | 2 | 219295922 | G>A,T | 0.05 | intron_variant | PTPRN | 3e-09 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
| rs184644645 | 14 | 68082493 | T>A,G | 0.05 | intron_variant | RAD51B | 9e-09 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
| rs6028719 | 20 | 39920405 | T>C | 0.05 | intergenic_variant | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | 2e-08 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
| rs6028721 | 20 | 39921753 | C>A,G,T | 0.05 | intergenic_variant | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | 2e-08 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
| rs6028723 | 20 | 39922976 | T>A,C,G | 0.05 | intergenic_variant | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | 2e-08 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
| rs34294182 | 20 | 39924852 | A>AC,AG | 0.05 | intergenic_variant | RN7SL680P - HSPE1P1 | 2e-08 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
| rs6129447 | 20 | 39937435 | A>C,T | 0.05 | intergenic_variant | HSPE1P1 - LINC01370 | 4e-08 | Tier 4: intronic/intergenic |
Genes & proteins
No associated-gene cohort resolved for this disease. Atlas builds the molecular and therapeutic sections — associated genes, protein families, druggability, pathways, interactions, and drug associations — by aggregating over a disease’s associated genes (resolved via GWAS / GenCC / ClinVar / CIViC), and none resolved here. This is expected for antibody-mediated, autoimmune, or otherwise non-gene-defined conditions; the curated evidence for this disease is its clinical features, GWAS susceptibility, and clinical trials (above).
Function
No pathway enrichment — requires an associated-gene cohort.
Therapeutics
Drugs indicated for this disease
2 approved, 3 in late-stage (phase 3) trials. Disease-direct ChEMBL indications, not inferred from the associated-gene cohort below.
| Drug | Development status |
|---|---|
| Brexanolone | Approved (phase 4) |
| Zuranolone | Approved (phase 4) |
| Aripiprazole | Phase 3 (in late-stage trials) |
| Celecoxib | Phase 3 (in late-stage trials) |
| Ketamine | Phase 3 (in late-stage trials) |
Earlier-phase candidates (phase 2, investigational — efficacy not yet established): Estradiol, OMEGA-3-ACID ETHYL ESTERS, Progesterone, Quetiapine, Sertraline.
Clinical trials & evidence
Clinical trials
Clinical trials: 382.
Phase distribution (across all retrieved trials)
| Phase | Trials |
|---|---|
| Not specified | 332 |
| PHASE2 | 18 |
| PHASE4 | 12 |
| PHASE3 | 11 |
| PHASE1 | 6 |
| PHASE2/PHASE3 | 1 |
| PHASE1/PHASE2 | 1 |
| EARLY_PHASE1 | 1 |
Top trials by phase / activity
| NCT | Phase | Status | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05698394 | PHASE4 | ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING | Effect of Low-dose Esketamine on Maternal Depression at 3 Years After Childbirth |
| NCT05826327 | PHASE4 | RECRUITING | Effects of Epidural Labor Analgesia With Esketamine on the Incidence of Postpartum Depression in Parturients |
| NCT06833788 | PHASE4 | NOT_YET_RECRUITING | Treatment of Anaemia After Caesarean With Intravenous Versus Oral Iron and Postpartum Depression |
| NCT00744328 | PHASE4 | TERMINATED | Postpartum Depression: Transdermal Estradiol Versus Sertraline |
| NCT00833469 | PHASE4 | COMPLETED | Escitalopram (Lexapro) for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression |
| NCT01463202 | PHASE4 | COMPLETED | Timing of Postpartum Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Administration on Breastfeeding, Contraceptive Continuation, and Depression |
| NCT03336541 | PHASE4 | COMPLETED | Low-dose Ketamine and Postpartum Depression in Parturients With Prenatal Depression |
| NCT03470675 | PHASE4 | COMPLETED | Postpartum Perineal Pain After Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries |
| NCT04017442 | PHASE4 | COMPLETED | Neuraxial Preservative Free Morphine for Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery |
| NCT04273191 | PHASE4 | WITHDRAWN | A Study to Evaluate Multimodal Neuroimaging Parameters in Women With Postpartum Depression Who Are Receiving ZULRESSO™ (Brexanolone) |
| NCT05059600 | PHASE4 | COMPLETED | A Study To Assess The Safe-Use Conditions For Administration of ZULRESSO® in a Home Setting |
| NCT05229913 | PHASE4 | UNKNOWN | Effects of Esketamine on Postpartum Depression |
| NCT05186272 | PHASE3 | ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING | mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Pregnant Black and Latina Women at Risk of Postpartum Depression |
| NCT00360204 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | Improving Health Outcomes for New Mothers and Babies |
| NCT00361478 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | Effect of the ‘Mother and Baby’ Program on Well-Being |
| NCT01386086 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | Aripiprazole and Resistant Postpartum Depression |
| NCT02726659 | PHASE3 | TERMINATED | Adjunctive Use of Celecoxib in the Treatment of Bipolar Postpartum Depression |
| NCT02942004 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of SAGE-547 in Participants With Severe Postpartum Depression (547-PPD-202B) |
| NCT02942017 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | A Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of SAGE-547 in Participants With Moderate Postpartum Depression (547-PPD-202C) |
| NCT02978326 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | A Study to Evaluate SAGE-217 in Participants With Severe Postpartum Depression |
| NCT03665038 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | A Study to Assess the Safety of Brexanolone in the Treatment of Adolescent Female Participants With Postpartum Depression (PPD) |
| NCT04227704 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | Ketamine to Prevent PPD After Cesarean |
| NCT06048263 | PHASE2/PHASE3 | WITHDRAWN | The Perinatal Synergistic Multi-component Intervention to alLeviate dEpressive Symptoms. A Case Series |
| NCT06979544 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | A Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Oral LPCN 1154A in Women With Severe PPD |
| NCT04685148 | PHASE1/PHASE2 | RECRUITING | Maternal Mental Health Trial |
| NCT06963580 | PHASE2 | ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING | Efficacy of MI078 Capsules in Treating Postpartum Depression |
| NCT00001481 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | The Role of Hormones in Postpartum Mood Disorders |
| NCT00059228 | PHASE2 | TERMINATED | Clinical Trial of Estrogen for Postpartum Depression |
| NCT00795652 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | Mom: Managing Our Mood, Part of The Family Help Program |
| NCT00961402 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | The Effect of Exercise on Preventing PostPartum Depression |
| NCT01309516 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | Randomised Control Trial of a Complex Intervention for Postnatal Depression |
| NCT02285504 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | Evaluate SAGE-547 in Female Participants With Severe Postpartum Depression |
| NCT02532504 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | Change Your Life With Seven Sheets of Paper |
| NCT02614547 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | A Study to Evaluate SAGE-547 in Participants With Severe Postpartum Depression |
| NCT04011592 | PHASE2 | TERMINATED | Efficacy And Tolerability Of Sub-Anesthetic Ketamine In Postpartum Depression |
| NCT04037085 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | Ketamine to Improve Recovery After Cesarean Delivery - Part 1 |
| NCT04051320 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | Characterizing the Neural Substrates of Irritability in Women: an Experimental Neuroendocrine Model |
| NCT05382884 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | The SUPPORT Study: Effectiveness and Usability of a Web-Enabled Resource for Postpartum Mental Health |
| NCT05804708 | PHASE2 | TERMINATED | Phase 2 Clinical Trial of GH001 in Postpartum Depression |
| NCT05937867 | PHASE2 | UNKNOWN | A Phase II Study of HS-10353 in Participants With Postpartum Depression |
Drugs tested across these trials (top 30)
| Molecule | Max phase | Trials referencing |
|---|---|---|
| BREXANOLONE | 4 | 7 |
| ESTRADIOL | 4 | 5 |
| ESKETAMINE | 4 | 3 |
| LEUPROLIDE | 4 | 3 |
| TRAZODONE | 4 | 2 |
| ALBENDAZOLE | 4 | 1 |
| ESCITALOPRAM | 4 | 1 |
| ESTRADIOL CYPIONATE | 4 | 1 |
| PYRIDOXINE | 4 | 1 |
| PYRIMETHAMINE | 4 | 1 |
| SERTRALINE | 4 | 1 |
| SUFENTANIL | 4 | 1 |
| SULFADOXINE | 4 | 1 |
| ZURANOLONE | 4 | 1 |
| SEROTONIN | 3 | 2 |
| CHEMBL1788361 | 0 | 1 |
| CHEMBL4073387 | 0 | 1 |