Hi Everyone
Progesterone treatment was first proposed by Katharina Dalton quite some years ago now See Deborah’s review about her book Depression After Childbirth Katharina Dalton. isbn: 0-19-263277-9. on my booklist at
www.pni.org.uk/book.htm.
The progesterone mini pill is not actually of any use at all apparently as it is made with an artificial progesterone and has a different chemical composition that prevents pregnancy but is designed to alter mood as little as possible and possibly is also too low a dose. (at least this is what Ms Dalton says)
Basically although I and many other women have/did find Naturally derived Progesterone either in the form of cyclogest pessseries or progesterone cream helpful and it is suggested by the APNI on their website at
www.apni.org/her theory has mainly been disregarded or at least not supported by current 'experts' recent research.
Therefore, while I personally from anecdotal evidence from many women, do not think it is a cure I certainly think it is helpful, but I am very surprised though to hear that a current gynaecologist is advocating this treatment.
Thank you Annag for this information - I shall certainly contact this consultant myself!
As far as research is concerned - some has been done into many aspects of what is known as Perinatal Mental Health and a list of some of the current researchers and some of the papers they have published
( in medical journals and the like, I have tried to get access to some of them but I guess one would have to go to a good medical library to get most of them and I do not have access to these currently - but I am determined to get hold of some of the current research and am working on this as we speak)
A list of current research papers and some current researchers can be found at :
www.keele.ac.uk/depts/pc/kepeu.htmThe Marce society site also has a list of its main members who basically if they are listed are thought to be the foremost thinkers on PNI.
Another report of findings on 'The contribution of Midwifery and Health Visitor care to maternal emotional health.' By Sandra Elliott (SE) , Maternal & Perinatal Partnership in Mental Health (MAPPIM), St. Thomas's Hospital, London can be found at :
www.btinternet.com/~basil_lee/emo3.htmlThese pages - I think page 3 - also mentions studies of PNI or what they call PND developing first in pregnancy. This is the current thought of midwife training I believe.
In many areas they are looking at setting up monitoring by midwives of pregnant women as a means to prevent or alleviate PNI.
I can not speak for other areas as I know that if you are lucky to be in the catchment area of a perinatal health unit there is much more on offer, but in Cornwall at least this is basically the only specialised prevention or support work funded for women with PNI.
Otherwise women with PNI in Cornwall are treated by their GP or unfortunately in severer cases in a mainstream psychiatric hospital ( which believe me is just not suitable for a mum with PNI and a young child.
Last Feb I was on local Radio with the chief midwife here in Cornwall who was saying this was in her view enogh that monitoring of pregnant women for PNI was done here - but I had to disagree it is not enough.
It certainly would not have helped me or many women I have known with PNI and we were perfectly happy in pregnancy and I agree it is an OK strategy along side others - but I am worried as it being the only strategy used in an area to prevent or treat PNI apart from Medication.
If any one here manages to track down research papers on this on the web or has access to a medical library that they can photocopy research for me – I would be grateful if you could let me know as I find it difficult to get hold of this stuff as I am not in the ‘right’ circles.
However while I have not been able to read much of the research, I have read a bit and my feeling is that it all is very medically based, from a medical observational viewpoint very little is from a participant observational viewpoint which is also an accepted research tool - or from an anecdotal research viewpoint.
Put simply what I mean is
NO ONE HAS ASKED US!!Also because many women are only involved in medical treatment ( and especially treatment in hospital and from department who do research ) for what I consider the first acute part of their illness ie 6 months to a year, the research has no perspective often on the less acute stages after wards when we are by no means totally better but we have exhausted ( apart perhaps from ongoing medication) what the doctors and experts can offer and have learnt enough about managing our illness, and this stage can for some go on for another few years.
In otherwise it does not cover living with this illness.
Also while there seems to be research on the effects on children - I have not found much about the ongoing effects on our lives of having suffered this illness. S
Some will argue that there are not any – but I would really like the research to find this out?
If I am completely honest I would like to do this research and get it published. ie ask you all and collate the information in a book.
This is just pie in the sky really as my only qualifications are a cert Ed and youth work based counselling and group therapy training - but I so want to do it!!
The problem is I have no energy to spend another 3 years or do doing a first degree in psychology( I am 52 next month and have studied all I want to at this level) just so I may be taken seriously.
So I am considering putting something together and try to get a publisher - others have done this so I may be able to get that far.
However I have started this before but without encouragement and contact with others interested in this field to bounce ideas off of – I run out of steam.
All the best
Veritee