Behavioral brain systems activation with postpartum blue: According revised reinforcement sensivity theory

Context: Mood disorders such as postpartum blue are very prevalent in the postnatal period, while the underlying mechanism of postpartum blue is not well known.

Aim: This research aimed to investigates the role of brain-behavioral systems activation in postpartum blue according to revised reinforcement sensitivity theory in mothers referring to Mashhad health-care centers.

Settings and Design: This correlational study has been conducted during February–March 2018, on 172 cases who diagnosed with postpartum blue were chosen through the purposive sampling method.

Materials and Methods: Participants completed demographic questionnaire, Jackson five-factor questionnaire, and the Edinburgh depression scale.

Statistical Analysis Used: The normality of data distribution examined using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. After, data were analyzed using descriptive methods (mean and standard deviation), Pearson confiscation, and stepwise regression method.

Results: The results showed that brain-behavioral systems, including behavioral inhibition system (BIS) (P < 0.001; R = 0.31) and behavioral activation system (BAS), had a significant correlation with postpartum blue (P < 0.05; R = 0.39), while there was no significant relationship between fight-flight systems with postpartum blue. BAS (R2 = 0.15, P < 0.05) and BIS (|R2 = 0.08, P < 0.001), the predictive potential of BIS and BAS was equal to 21% of variance of postpartum blue.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that behavioral-brain systems play a role in mothers’ “postpartum psychological disorders such as postpartum blue and in the conception of mothers” distress after maternal delivery, the effects of these systems can be used in short-term interventions.