Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Women with PMDD
There is excellent data to support the use of selective serotonin and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs) for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); however, many women do not want to take these medications for symptoms that occur once a month. Other women do not want to deal with the side effects, which include sexual dysfunction. What else can we offer to treat premenstrual symptoms? Over the years, [...]
Clinical Update 2020: Melatonin and Pregnancy
Many women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. For a significant number of women, the sleep disruption may be so severe as to require some type of intervention. Sleep disturbance is not only distressing but there is now evidence that sleep disturbance during pregnancy may predispose certain women to perinatal depression or anxiety. Many women ask about the safety of using melatonin during pregnancy as a sleep aid.  [...]
Weekly Roundup for FEBRUARY 28, 2020: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
Every week we review the most recent publications in women’s mental health, covering topics related to premenstrual symptoms, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, use of medications in pregnant and breastfeeding women, perinatal substance use, and menopausal mental health. This week, Huybrechts and colleagues publish on the reproductive safety of duloxetine (Cymbalta). We will cover this in greater detail next week.  For more detailed descriptions of many of these topics, you [...]
Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms Common and Persistent After Pregnancy LossÂ
Early pregnancy loss is common, affecting up to 25% of pregnancies. Studies looking at the emotional consequences of miscarriage have shown that...
Prenatal Folate Increases Child Brain Volumes, Improves Cognitive DevelopmentÂ
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) unequivocally recommends that ALL WOMEN who are either planning or capable of pregnancy take a DAILY SUPPLEMENT containing 0.4 TO 0.8 mg (400-800 µg) OF FOLIC ACID.  While the most obvious benefit of prenatal use of folate is a significant reduction in risk of neural tube defects, other studies indicate that periconceptual use of folic acid reduces risk for other congenital malformations, including [...]
Clinical Update 2020: Duloxetine and Pregnancy
Women face difficult choices when deciding whether or not to continue psychiatric medications during pregnancy. For many years, we have typically recommended the older antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft), because we had the most robust data on reproductive safety data for these medications. As time has moved along, we have seen more women taking some of these [...]