France Bans the Use of Valproic Acid in Some Women of Childbearing Age
There have long been concerns regarding the safety of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy.  Back in 2009, the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society recommended against the use of valproic acid in women of childbearing age because of the various risks associated with prenatal exposure.  Raising similar concerns in 2014, the European Medicine Agency (EMA)’s Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee recommended restricting the use of valproic acid in [...]
Weekly Roundup for AUGUST 4, 2017: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
This week brings some interesting reviews on the use of ECT during pregnancy (Thyen et al) and the impact of maternal PTSD on child outcomes (Cook et al). Â Also worth reading are two articles -- one from Byatt and colleagues, the other from Cook et al -- which look at the factors which either facilitate or impede help-seeking and access to care in women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Electroconvulsive [...]
Announcing the MGH Perinatal Depression Scale at the App Store
We are very pleased to announce the release of the MGH Perinatal Depression Scale available free of charge on the App Store (https://appsto.re/us/-3X4jb.i). The MGHPDS smartphone app includes digital versions of perinatal depression screening tools including the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) as well as other instruments which measure relevant symptoms associated with peripartum psychiatric illness: sleep disturbance, anxiety and perceived stress. Those who download the app and who complete the [...]
Clinical Guidelines for Lithium Dosing During Pregnancy
We have an abundance of articles which address the impact of psychotropic medications on pregnancy. Â Much less research, however, has focused on how pregnancy may affect how these medications work. Physiologic changes take place during pregnancy which may affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of medications. Â These pharmacokinetic changes may result in lower (or higher) psychotropic drug levels and, in some cases, loss of clinical effectiveness or increased risk of [...]
Weekly Roundup for July 28, 2017: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
A light week. Untreated perinatal paternal depression: Effects on offspring. Gentile S, Fusco ML.Psychiatry Res. 2017 Jun;252:325-332. Review. Â Untreated perinatal paternal depression negatively affects child development. Â Family-centred approaches may improve the effectiveness of perinatal mental health programs. Reduction of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Yamada K, Kamagata E. Â Qual Life Res. 2017 Jul 3. During their reproductive years, patients with untreated PMDD are expected to [...]
No Association Between Intellectual Disability and Prenatal Antidepressant Exposure
We have long been interested in understanding the effects of prenatal exposure to antidepressants on the development of the fetal brain.  The earliest studies addressing this question were small but yielded detailed (and reassuring) information regarding the cognitive development of children exposed to antidepressants in utero.  The findings of these studies supported the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to SSRI antidepressants has no long-term negative effects on the child’s cognitive development. More [...]