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. 2015 Feb;18(1):103-11.
doi: 10.1007/s00737-014-0453-4. Epub 2014 Aug 13.

Oral contraceptive use and psychiatric disorders in a nationally representative sample of women

Keely Cheslack-Postava  1 , Katherine M Keyes, Sarah R Lowe, Karestan C Koenen
Affiliations

Oral contraceptive use and psychiatric disorders in a nationally representative sample of women

Keely Cheslack-Postava et al. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between oral contraceptive use (any current use, duration, and type) and major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and panic disorder (PD) in a nationally representative sample of women in the USA. Data were drawn from 1,105 women aged 20-39 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2004. The associations between self-reported use of oral contraceptives in the past year and DSM-IV diagnosed and subthreshold MDD, GAD, and PD in the past year were assessed comparing oral contraceptive users to all non-users, former users, and former long-term users. Women using oral contraceptives had a lower past-year prevalence of all disorders assessed, other than subthreshold MDD. When adjusted for confounders, women using oral contraceptives in the past year had significantly lower odds of subthreshold PD, compared to former users (odds ratio (OR) = 0.34, 95 % CI 0.14-0.84). Effects estimates were strongest for monophasic (versus multiphasic) oral contraceptive users. Hormonal contraceptive use was associated with reduced risk of subthreshold PD. A potential mental health benefit of hormonal contraceptives has substantial public health implications; prospective longitudinal studies are needed to confirm whether hormonal contraceptive use improves mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Selection of population for inclusion
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