SAGE-547 for depression: Cause for caution and optimism
The importance of postpartum depression, both in terms of its prevalence and the need for appropriate screening and effective treatments, has become an increasingly important area of focus for clinicians, patients, and policymakers. This derives from more than a decade of data on the significant prevalence of the condition, with roughly 10% of women meeting the criteria for major or minor depression during the first 3-6 months post partum. Over the [...]
Risk of Neonatal Morbidity in Infants Exposed to SSRIs
A few days ago, an article was published in the journal Pediatrics on neonatal morbidity observed in children exposed to antidepressants. Although this article is likely to find its way into the headlines, it is important to note that the information presented here is nothing new. Similar to previous studies, the Pediatrics study reveals higher rates of neonatal symptoms or complications in the infants born to women who were treated with [...]
Weekly Roundup for OCT 28 2016: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
Again, we have a lot of really interesting articles. New week, we will review the study looking at motor development in children prenatally exposed to SSRIs. We will talk more about this in our review but it appears that prenatal exposure to SSRIs was weakly associated with a delayed motor development at 3 years of age, “but not to the extent that the delay was of clinical importance”. There are some [...]
Can Tofu Reduce Your Risk of Depression During Pregnancy?
Phytoestrogens are weak plant-derived estrogens that are structurally similar to estrogen hormones produced by the body. The phytoestrogens contained in soy-based products are called isoflavones. Because they have estrogenic activity, soy isoflavones have long been touted as a treatment for menopausal symptoms, although these clinical studies have yielded mixed results. States of estrogen deficiency and falling estrogen levels, as occur during the postpartum period or the transition to menopause, have [...]
What Exactly Causes Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women? Researchers Look at Neurokinin B
Perimenopausal vasomotor symptoms are triggered by a fall in circulating levels of estrogen and other sex steroids. It has been hypothesized that thermoregulatory centres in the hypothalamus play a crucial role in mediating the hot flash response. However, exactly how do hormonal changes bring about these changes in the hypothalamus? If we could understand this connection, we might be able to devise new non-hormonal strategies for the management of menopausal symptoms. [...]
Prenatal Antiepileptic Exposure Increases Risk for Malformations: Does High-Dose Folic Acid Reduce Risk?
The CDC, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) all recommend that every woman of reproductive age get 400 micrograms (400 mcg) or 0.4 milligrams of folic acid every day. Most multivitamins contain 400 micrograms or 0.4 milligrams of folic acid. Most prenatal vitamins have approximately 800 micrograms or 0.8 milligrams of folic acid. By taking the recommended dosage of folic acid daily, women [...]