Birth control + Depression

[cbrons]

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Is birth control contributing to depression in certain patients? Recently read this article: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2552796

I.e. if someone with no previous diagnosis presents with depression shortly after starting OCPs, what do you think is a good evidence-based recommendation? Stop taking OCPs?

 

[heysexylady]

Is birth control contributing to depression in certain patients? Recently read this article: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2552796

I.e. if someone with no previous diagnosis presents with depression shortly after starting OCPs, what do you think is a good evidence-based recommendation? Stop taking OCPs?

Correlation does not equal causation. Consider other options before telling your patient that her birth control pills is making her depressed.

 

[Unico]

Interesting article. A quick google search provided these which sorta address your question:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-007-9302-0
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-012-2298-2

With everything else, the age of the patient and the reasons for the OCP use (pregnancy, PMDD, acne, etc.) are important. I think asking this question in the OB/Gyn board might provide some more insights as well.

As a completely anecdotal, n=1, TMI aside, I refuse to take OCPs because of their side effects (and that is what sparked my interest in psychoneuroendocrinology).

 

[Shikima]

There is little we understand about the brain from a biochemical ergo mood/behavioral context.

 

[singasongofjoy]

There's a chance some of it is coincidence too, and searching for causation that may not be there (i.e., correlation not equaling causation, as previously stated). Women often tend to start taking BC as late teens/ young adults, and also tends to be a time with a lot of change (graduating, moving to different cities, entering job market) and also statistically when a lot of women have their first major depressive episode (adolescence/early adulthood)

 

[Merovinge]

As a completely anecdotal, n=1, TMI aside, I refuse to take OCPs because of their side effects (and that is what sparked my interest in psychoneuroendocrinology).

Conversely, the women who's lives improve significantly when taking OCPs due to less cramping, shorter periods, less acne, and possible beneficial psychoneuroendocrine changes (not counting the feeling of reducing one's all cause mortality).

 

[singasongofjoy]

Conversely, the women who's lives improve significantly when taking OCPs due to less cramping, shorter periods, less acne, and possible beneficial psychoneuroendocrine changes (not counting the feeling of reducing one's all cause mortality).

+1 over here.