For the study, Yim's group looked for a percy between placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) and postpartum depression. The report is published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. "By means of a simple blood draw, we could correctly identify 75% of women who would later develop postpartum depression," she said. Approximately 13% of women will experience postpartum depression, a condition that holds significant consequences not only for women but for their infants and families as well, experts say.

Once a woman has had postpartum depression, she is more likely to have future bouts of depression, and that puts infants and children at risk for cognitive, behavioral and social problems.

Latest Depression News SSRI Antidepressants May Lower Adult Suicide Risk Teen TV Time Tied to Adult Depression Blood Test May Predict Postpartum Depression Zoloft, Lexapro the Best of Newer Antidepressants With Depression, Vets Face Higher Suicide Risk Want More News. The researchers took blood samples from 100 pregnant women at various stages during their pregnancy. Sign Up for MedicineNet Newsletters. Yim, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine.

"If we know gram on that a woman is at high risk to develop postpartum depression, then we can implement interventions before symptoms actually occur," said lead researcher Ilona S.