dc.creator | Lamb, Amy Rebekah | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-08-22T17:32:31Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-07-18 | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-07-18 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/etd-07172014-232102 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1803/13133 | |
dc.description.abstract | NURSING SCIENCE
Depression and Vitamin D in Pregnancy
Amy Rebekah Lamb
Dissertation under the direction of Professor Melanie Lutenbacher
Depression is a serious problem affecting 8-27% of all pregnant women. Current research suggests that pregnant women with low vitamin D levels are at increased risk for depression, however research in this area is limited and conflicting. Studies also indicate that many pregnant women have significantly low vitamin D levels despite taking prenatal vitamins. In light of rising rates of depression, growing concern over vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, and conflicting evidence regarding the association between depression and vitamin D in pregnancy more work is needed to better understand the associations between vitamin D and depression. This descriptive longitudinal study explored the associations between levels of depressive symptoms and vitamin D in a sample of 125 pregnant women. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screen (EPDS) in the first and third trimesters. Vitamin D levels were measured using 25OHD serum levels collected in the first trimester and at time of delivery. Low levels of vitamin D were associated with high depressive symptoms over time in this sample (r=-0.30, p=.005). Low vitamin D levels may be an important risk factor for increased depressive symptoms in pregnancy. Further studies examining underlying mechanisms and supplementation are needed. | |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.subject | Depression | |
dc.subject | Vitamin D | |
dc.subject | Pregnancy | |
dc.subject | mood disorders | |
dc.subject | hypovitaminosis D | |
dc.title | Depression and Vitamin D in Pregnancy | |
dc.type | dissertation | |
dc.contributor.committeeMember | Ken Wallston | |
dc.contributor.committeeMember | Shelagh Mulvaney | |
dc.contributor.committeeMember | Lavenia Carpenter | |
dc.type.material | text | |
thesis.degree.name | PHD | |
thesis.degree.level | dissertation | |
thesis.degree.discipline | Nursing Science | |
thesis.degree.grantor | Vanderbilt University | |
local.embargo.terms | 2014-07-18 | |
local.embargo.lift | 2014-07-18 | |
dc.contributor.committeeChair | Melanie Lutenbacher | |