Perinatal depression is associated with a higher polygenic risk for major depressive disorder than non-perinatal depression

Abstract

Background: Distinctions between major depressive disorder (MDD) and perinatal depression (PND) reflect varying views of PND, from a unique etiological subtype of MDD to an MDD episode that happens to coincide with childbirth. This case–control study investigated genetic differences between PND and MDD outside the perinatal period (non-perinatal depression or NPD). Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study using PND cases (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥ 13) from the Australian Genetics of Depression Study 2018 data (n = 3804) and screened controls (n = 6134). Results of gene-set enrichment analysis were compared with those of women with non-PND. For six psychiatric ..