In Brief: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Improves Sleep in Perimenopausal Women
Peri- and post-menopausal women frequently complain of insomnia or poor sleep quality. Sleep disturbance is often attributed to nocturnal hot flashes; however, a sizeable proportion of menopausal women may have a primary sleep disorder. Â Â Â As part of the Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health network (MS-FLASH), randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were used to measure the impact of six interventions on insomnia symptoms in women with vasomotor symptoms (VMS). [...]
Higher Doses of Topiramate (Topamax) During Pregnancy, Increased Risk of Oral Clefts
Topiramate (TPM, marketed as Topamax) is an antiepileptic drug which is also used for migraine prophylaxis, weight loss, and, less commonly, as a mood stabilizer. Â Over the last few years we have seen several studies suggesting an increased risk of oral clefts in infants exposed to topiramate during the first trimester of pregnancy. Â A large study including 2,425 infants with prenatal exposure to topiramate has confirmed these earlier findings. Â Using [...]
Happy New Year: What Happened in 2017?
Happy New Year from the Center for Women’s Mental Health!!  As we sit here in the Northeast bracing for yet another major snowstorm to hit, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the past year.  It has been another very active year in the field of women’s mental health, with about 350 newly published articles summarized in our weekly roundups.   We continue to see analyses addressing the reproductive [...]
Weekly Roundup for December 22, 2017: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
The article that has received the most attention is the one on the use of stimulants during pregnancy, focusing on the risk of cardiovascular malformations.  While the media has focused on certain findings, the overall picture is good.  You can read more here. Association Between Methylphenidate and Amphetamine Use in Pregnancy and Risk of Congenital Malformations: A Cohort Study From the International Pregnancy Safety Study Consortium. Huybrechts KF, Bröms G, Christensen [...]
Good News: More Data on the Use of ADHD Medications During Pregnancy
For women with mild to moderate attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, we often recommend discontinuing stimulant medications and switching to a non-pharmacologic intervention. Â Many women experience some decrease in their level of functioning; however, they are able to forgo or minimize pharmacologic treatment during pregnancy. Â There are, however, women who experience more severe symptoms which interfere significantly with their daily functioning. Â In these women, we may consider maintaining pharmacologic treatment. The primary [...]
Managing Opioid Dependence in Pregnancy: Outcomes in Children Exposed to Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, or Methadone
The use of opioid drugs in women of childbearing age has become a pressing public health concern. Â It is clear that opiate use during pregnancy puts the mother and child at risk; opiate use during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk for oral clefts, neural tube defects, congenital heart defects, and ophthalmic problems. Â In addition, obstetrical complications are more common in women using opioids during pregnancy and include maternal cardiac [...]