Depression is a prevalent health problem affecting U.S. women. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are commonly used for pregnancy prevention, and evidence is mixed regarding any increased risk for incident depression among users, particularly adolescents.
Methods
We examined the relationship between OCP use and depressive disorders among female adolescents using validated, structured interview assessments in a general population sample of adolescents in the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement. Respondents were 4765 female adolescents with no history of pregnancy who reported current OCP use, lifetime OCP use, and age of OCP initiation. Lifetime and current depressive disorders, including major depressive disorder and depressive episodes, were assessed by lay interviewers.
Results
In logistic regression models adjusted for a range of confounders, there was no relationship between ever using OCPs and lifetime depressive disorder (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.88-1.37), nor current use of OCPs and current depressive disorder (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.50-1.35). Using survival analysis for age-of-onset data, we found that OCP use is not associated with an increased risk of depressive disorders.
Conclusions
In sum, use of OCPs in a general population sample of adolescents did not increase the risk of depressive disorders.
McKetta Keyes oral contraceptive pill depression adolescents National Comorbidity Survey, OCP use depressive disorder adjusted odds ratio 1.10 no association female teenagers, hormonal contraception mental health 4765 adolescent females structured interview, lifetime major depressive disorder OCP use survival analysis age-of-onset data, current OCP use current depressive disorder OR 0.82 no increased risk, National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement contraception epidemiology, logistic regression confounders adjusted oral contraceptive depression risk teens, age OCP initiation depressive episode incidence reproductive health epidemiology, oral contraceptive pills pregnancy prevention adolescent no pregnancy history sample, validated structured interview assessment lay interviewers depressive disorders
PMID 30674431 30674431 DOI 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.10.002 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.10.002
Cite this article
McKetta, S., & Keyes, K. (2019). Oral contraceptive use and depression among adolescents. Annals of epidemiology, 29, 46-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.10.002
McKetta S, Keyes K. Oral contraceptive use and depression among adolescents. Ann Epidemiol. 2019;29:46-51. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.10.002
McKetta, Sarah, and Katherine Keyes. "Oral contraceptive use and depression among adolescents." Annals of epidemiology, vol. 29, 2019, pp. 46-51.
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