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Study: Link Between Hormonal Contraceptives, Increased Risk Of Depression

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There's an important warning for women using certain birth control methods as new research is suggesting there's a link between hormonal contraceptives and an increased risk of depression.

CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported that hormones can affect someone's mental state, so it's not surprising that hormonal contraceptives like the pill, the patch, vaginal ring, under skin implants and some IUD's may be linked to depression.

A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry finds that these birth control methods, such as pills or implants, may increase the risk of depression.

"They found that there was about a 23 percent increase compared to non-users of hormonal contraception in terms of depression diagnosis or use of antidepressants," said Dr. James Liu of University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical Center.

Researchers looked at data on more than 1 million girls and women aged 15 to 35 in Denmark. The study found adolescents were at the greatest risk.

"I think for the adolescents the cognitive development is not as mature as women who are older and relationship issues may be more prevalent in the population, so I think that sort of reflects that trend," said Liu.

Doctors said the study doesn't change whether hormonal contraceptives should be prescribed to women, but the link is something clinicians and patients should be aware of.

"Women, if they do develop signs of mild depression, should interface with their provider," said Liu.

While most women won't experience clinical depression or need antidepressants after starting birth control, doctors should be on the lookout for potential mood changes in their patients in the first few months of use.

The research does not necessarily mean that hormonal medication causes depression, just that there's a link.

This is a reminder that women starting on any kind of hormonal medicine, or any medicine at all, should be careful to note any changes – good or bad, physical or mental – and discuss them with a doctor.

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