Can DNA predict postpartum depression? UNC researchers need your help

Roughly 1 in 6 mothers experience postpartum depression, yet researchers still don’t fully understand why some women develop the condition while others don’t.

UNC-Chapel Hill researchers are leading a national effort in an attempt to answer one of the biggest mysteries surrounding maternal mental health. 

“Not everybody experiences postpartum depression the same way,” said Jerry Guintivano, principal investigator of the Mom Genes study. “It differs across families. Cultural backgrounds have a significant contribution to it, because some groups don’t talk about it. So we don’t really know why some people might get really severe mood symptoms, some people might get anxiety symptoms, or even obsessive compulsion." 

Guintivano is a research associate professor in the departments of psychiatry and genetics at UNC-Chapel Hill. The study is a continuation of work he and his team started in 2016.

The NIH-funded Mom Genes study looks to enroll 7,000 mothers ages 18 and older from across the United States and Puerto Rico. Participants complete an online survey about their health and life experiences, and some are also asked to provide an at-home blood sample that researchers analyze for genetic clues.

“Any mom of any age is eligible to join our study. We’ve had moms in their 70s recall their childbirth from 30 years ago, and it’s all valuable information to us,” Guintivano said.

Unlike many research studies, participants don't have to travel to Chapel Hill. Blood collection kits are mailed directly to participants and can be completed at home in about 15 minutes before being returned to the lab. 

“A lot of the genetics work that we do requires really large sample sizes, because we're looking at millions of spots in your DNA. We needed to recruit a large number of people that we can't just get from the hospital,” Guintivano said. “Back in 2016, this wasn’t being done. We were the first genetic study to collect saliva samples and perform this genomic association study.”

The team says it has learned a lot over the past decade with advances in technology and genetic research. One of the biggest changes was replacing the original smartphone app with a browser-based online survey. 

“More people can access it. There's less hesitancy to install another app on your phone,” he explained. “We’ve also expanded the number of questions we're asking, so that we can better understand the life events that go along with these depression and anxiety symptoms in the postpartum period.”

Researchers already know certain factors can increase the likelihood of postpartum depression, including a history of depression or anxiety, trauma, abuse, and other major life events. But Guintivano says genetics also appear to play a role, and the study is designed to better understand how those factors work together. 

“If we could develop some sort of biomarker, some indicator, that will tell you, ‘Based off of your DNA, this is your risk,’ I think that will be very valuable,” the researcher said. “You can prepare your social support for post delivery, you can prepare if you need to take any medication or discontinue medication. Ultimately it’s so that the mom has the best outcome.”

Researchers say that kind of breakthrough could transform how postpartum depression is identified and managed in the future. 

“I just want to be able to help identify these women at risk, much in the same way we do for cancer. Cancer has very specific genetic markers. You’re able to identify and develop a prognosis, where for mental health, we don’t have that quite yet,” Guintivano said. 

Guintivano acknowledged some participants may be hesitant to submit a blood sample, but said he wants to reassure women that their questions will be answered directly by him and his team. 

“Please reach out to us, because we're the ones that the questions go to, it's not some robot or something somewhere else,” he said. “We can help you through whatever questions you might have. At the end of the day, we're all trying to help moms now and in the future.”

Women interested in participating or learning more can visit MomGenesFightPPD.org or contact the research team at momgenes@unc.edu with questions.