Postpartum depression (PPD) is a unique subtype of major depressive disorder and a substantial contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. In addition to affecting the mother, PPD can have short- and long-term consequences for the infant and partner. The precise etiology of PPD is unknown, but proposed mechanisms include altered regulation of stress response pathways, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and dysfunctional gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling, and functional linkages exist between these pathways. Current PPD pharmacotherapies are not directly related to these proposed pathophysiologies. In this review, we focus on the potential role of GABAergic signaling and the GABA_A receptor positive allosteric modulator allopregnanolone in PPD. Data implicating GABAergic signaling and allopregnanolone in PPD are discussed in the context of the development of brexanolone injection, an intravenous formulation of allopregnanolone recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult women with PPD.

产后抑郁症（PPD）是重度抑郁症的独特亚型，是孕产妇发病和死亡的重要原因。PPD除了影响母亲外，还会对婴儿和伴侣造成短期和长期的影响。PPD的确切病因尚不清楚，但提出的机制包括改变应激反应途径的调节，例如下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴和功能失调的γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）信号传导，并且这些途径之间存在功能性联系。当前的PPD药物治疗与这些提议的病理生理学没有直接关系。在这篇综述中，我们重点研究GABA能信号和GABA _A的潜在作用。PPD中的受体阳性的变构调节剂alloregnanolone。在布雷索诺酮注射剂的开发背景下，讨论了在PPD中涉及GABA能信号和阿洛培那诺酮的数据，布雷沙诺龙注射剂是美国食品药品监督管理局最近批准的用于治疗成年女性PPD的静脉内制剂。