How Are We Doing: What Happens to Women Who Screen Positive for Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) screening has been increasingly implemented not only in obstetric, but also in primary care and pediatric settings, over the past decade. While there is a growing appreciation for the prevalence of PPD and an understanding of the debilitating effects it can have if not treated, few studies have investigated the course of follow-up treatment for women once they screen positive for PPD. Researchers from the Indiana University [...]
Weekly Roundup for January 19, 2018: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
More data on the reproductive safety of ADHD medications (Norby et al 2017), a study questioning the effectiveness of doxylamine-pyridoxine for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (Persaud et al 2018), and a study documenting the strong association between adverse childhood events and risk for postpartum depression (Mahenge et al 2017). Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD Perinatal Outcomes After Treatment With ADHD Medication During Pregnancy. Nörby U, Winbladh B, Källén K. Pediatrics. [...]
Postpartum depression: Moving toward improved screening with a new app
The following post was first published in OB/GYN News. Please see our OB/GYN News archives here. Publish date: November 22, 2017 Over the last several years, there’s been increasing interest and ultimately a growing number of mandates across dozens of states to screen women for postpartum depression (PPD). As PPD is the most common, and often devastating, complication in modern obstetrics, screening for it is a movement that I fully support. What’s been challenging [...]
In Brief: Night Sweats? Hot Flashes? Try Yoga
Yoga is frequently recommended as a treatment for menopause-related symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbance; however, studies regarding its effectiveness have yielded mixed results. In a recent meta-anlsyis, researchers analyzed data from 13 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1306 participants. Compared with no treatment, yoga reduced total menopausal symptoms, and specifically led to improvements in psychological, somatic, vasomotor, and urogenital symptoms. With regard to other forms of exercise, [...]
Probiotics for Postpartum Depression? Not There Yet
The role of the gut microbiome in mood disorders is an emerging, fascinating field in neuroscience and medicine. Numerous studies have shown that the gut microbiota (colonies of both “good” and “bad” bacteria living in the gastrointestinal tract) are important in normal brain function. Furthermore, the status of this bacterial population can activate central nervous system signaling and neural pathways including the immune system, neuroendocrine, and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis [...]
Weekly Roundup for January 12, 2018: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
The two most important articles of late present the results of two studies (Levine et al 2018, Bjork et al 2018) demonstrating that periconceptual use of folic acid reduces the risk of having a child with autism or autistic traits. The first study assessed risk in all women; the second focused on the risk in women taking antiepileptic drugs. Also interesting is the study from Gordon and colleagues which observed that [...]