The dramatic endocrinologic changes that occur after childbirth and the
coincident affective disturbances that range from "maternity blues" to
major depression have stimulated much theorizing and some study. The role
of breast-feeding and weaning has received remarkably little attention both
in the more biologically oriented studies and in epidemiologic work. This
paper reviews endocrinologic data which support the thesis that postpartum
psychiatric disorders have a hormonal basis and discusses the possible
psychiatric effects of breast- feeding and weaning. The cases of four
patients who developed major depressions in close temporal association with
weaning are presented and discussed.Abstract Teaser