ArticleRevista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)2026
Plasma orexin-A levels in women with postpartum depression: a prospective controlled study.
Article in Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivePostpartum depression is a common mood disorder. Orexin-A, a hypothalamic neuropeptide involved in regulating arousal, stress response, and emotional processes, is implicated in major depressive disorder. The aim of this study was to assess plasma orexin-A levels in women with postpartum depression and to explore its potential biological involvement in postpartum depression.
methodsA prospective controlled pilot trial was conducted at two hospitals between April 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. In total, 60 postpartum women were included: 30 women with postpartum depression, defined as Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale ≥13 and confirmed by psychiatric evaluation, and 30 age- and parity-matched healthy controls (Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale <13, no psychiatric diagnosis). Venous blood samples were collected 1 month after delivery, and plasma orexin-A was measured. Demographic, obstetric, and clinical characteristics were recorded.
resultsThe groups were comparable in terms of demographic and obstetric characteristics. Mean plasma orexin-A levels were significantly lower in women with postpartum depression compared to controls (65.2±10.8 vs. 79.9±6.4 pg/mL, p=0.021). Orexin-A levels were positively correlated with maternal age (r=0.328, p=0.011) but were not associated with parity, body mass index, neonatal parameters, or family history.
conclusionThis preliminary clinical evidence demonstrates that plasma orexin-A levels are reduced in women with postpartum depression, independent of major demographic or obstetric factors. The findings support orexin-A as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in postpartum depression. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality and investigate orexin-based interventions.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.