NEWS RELEASES
5/17/04 News Release
MEDIA CONTACTS: Michelle Brandt at (650) 723-0272 ()
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON DEPRESSION IN PREGNANCY
STANFORD, Calif. – It’s supposed to be the happiest time of their lives, yet some mothers-to-be feel anything but joyous. In a first-of-its-kind study, a Stanford University School of Medicine researcher is now exploring novel ways to tackle the problem of depression among pregnant women.
Rachel Manber, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavior sciences, is seeking volunteers for a study evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture and massage for treating depression during pregnancy.
According to Manber, depression affects between 3 and 11 percent of pregnant women. Three recent studies documented that the prevalence of depression during pregnancy is equivalent or slighter higher than the postpartum period. Despite this, little research has been done in this area, she said, and no previous studies have investigated treating depressed pregnant women with acupuncture or massage.
Manber is enrolling 180 women for the study. During the trial, they will be randomized to receive either acupuncture or massage therapy. Participants will receive at least eight weeks of treatment and are monitored on a monthly basis for up to nine months postpartum. Bay Area practitioners will provide the acupuncture or massage in their offices; monthly assessments of the researcher volunteers will be conducted at Stanford or in San Francisco.
Pregnant women age 18 or older who are experiencing depression may be eligible for the study. Volunteers must be medically stable and between 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Participants cannot receive any concurrent treatment for depression while in the study. Interested women should call (650) 724-4431 for additional information.
Manber’s study is funded by the Agency for Health Care and Prevention.
Her co-investigators include Maurice Druzin, MD, professor of obstetrics
and gynecology, and Brent Solvason, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry
and behavior sciences.
# # #
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation’s top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. For information about all three, please visit http://stanfordmedicine.org/about/news.html.
