Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk for Hyperactivity and Behavior Problems in Young Children
Previous studies have demonstrated that children born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a recent review, Huang and colleagues looked at data from 15 cohort studies and 5 case-control studies in order to better quantify this risk. The analysis included a total of 50,044 children with ADHD and 2,998,059 controls. The researchers calculated that maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with [...]
Understanding postpartum psychosis: From course to treatment
Dr. Lee S. Cohen, Director of the Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women's Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, recently shared his insights on diagnosing and treating postpartum psychosis with Ob.Gyn News on January 30th, 2020 Although the last decade has brought appropriate increased interest in the diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression, with screening initiatives across more than 40 states in place and even new medications being brought to market for treatment, [...]
Weekly Roundup for JANUARY 17, 2020: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
Several articles from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry report on suicidal and self-harm ideation in pregnant and postpartum women. Not surprisingly, a history of psychiatric illness increases risk; however, other factors play an important role, including history of self-harm and obstetric and neonatal complications. In this setting, we still do not know what drives women with suicidal thoughts to attempt suicide. Clinically we suspect that the severity of symptoms, especially [...]
If We Are So Concerned About Maternal Mental Health, Why Don’t We Have More Mother-Baby Mental Health Programs?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommends screening for perinatal depression, stating that “clinicians screen patients at least once during the perinatal period for depression and anxiety symptoms using a standard, validated tool.” Having the backing of ACOG is certainly a big step in the right direction, but as we move toward universal screening, we must make sure that screening is seamlessly connected to follow-up and treatment. [...]
Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Depression and SSRIs Affect Network Connectivity, But in Different Ways
While we have considerable data regarding the reproductive safety of antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), most studies have focused on the prevalence of major malformations in children with prenatal exposure to antidepressants. In contrast,, we have considerably less data on the effects of exposure to SSRIs on brain development. This data is considerably more difficult to gather, as the changes may be more subtle, affecting the microarchitecture [...]
In Brief: Suicide Rate Triples in Young Girls
After accidental deaths, suicide is the second leading cause of death in those between the ages of 10 and 19 years. Historically, suicide rates have been higher for male than for female youth; however, recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that this pattern is changing. After a downward trend in suicide rates through 2007, suicide among female youth showed the greatest increase. [...]