Postnatal depression, oxytocin and maternal sensitivity

Abstract

Intra nasal oxytocin administered

to a population of mothers with a diagnosis of postnatal depression:

-lowers their current mood -causes mothers to report that their infants are more difficult but their relationship with them is more positive -increases their protective response towards them in the presence of a socially intrusive stranger, -and causes them to rate a newborn cry sound as more urgent but to indicate that they would choose a more harsh care-giving strategy in response to this cry. Further research should be embarked upon prior to using this as a treatment in women suffering postnatal depression.