Prenatal Cannabis Exposure May Affect Fetal Brain Development
With many states now moving forward with the legalization of medical marijuana, there seems to be a growing sense that marijuana is relatively safe and may, in some cases, be more attractive or effective than traditional medications for a spectrum of medical and psychiatric illnesses. The use of marijuana in the United States appears to be increasing. Â According to a nationwide survey, 7.3% of Americans 12 or older regularly used marijuana [...]
Weekly Roundup for JULY 1 2016: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
Migration and perinatal mental health in women from low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fellmeth G, Fazel M, Plugge E. BJOG. 2016 June 20. (Epub ahead of print) Early postnatal demoralisation among primiparous women in the community: measurement, prevalence and associated factors. Bobevski I, Rowe H, Clarke DM, McKenzie DP, Fisher J. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015 Oct 12;15:259 The Effect of Stressful Life Events on Postpartum Depression: Findings from [...]
You Asked: Is St. John’s Wort Effective for PMDD?
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herbal preparation which has been shown, in some studies, to be effective for the treatment of mild to moderate depressive symptoms. St. John’s wort is now one of the most commonly used herbal products in the United States and is widely used in Europe. We don’t know exactly what is responsible for the antidepressant effects of St. John’s wort; however, it appears that St. [...]
What Keeps Women with Perinatal Depression from Getting the Help They Need?
 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently released recommendations on Screening for Depression in Adults. The Task Force recommended that clinicians screen ALL ADULTS for depression and noted that screening in the primary care setting is beneficial. Echoing the recommendations made by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists last year, the  USPSTF also emphasized the importance of screening in populations at particularly high risk for depression: pregnant and [...]
Weekly Roundup for JUNE 24 2016: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
Heading up the roundup is a nice review on the use of natural phytoestrogens for the management menopausal symptoms which suggests that phytoestrogens are associated with modest reductions in hot flashes but have no effect on night sweats (Franco et al). Â In a randomized controlled trial, an interpersonal therapy-based intervention was effective for preventing postpartum depression in a group of high-risk women (Zlotnick et al). Â Use of Plant-Based Therapies [...]
Predicting Postpartum Depression: Elevated Leptin Levels as Biomarker?
Biomarkers (or biological markers) are used in many fields of medicine to provide objective information on normal or pathological biological processes and to predict response to therapeutic interventions. Â Researchers have long searched for biomarkers which could be used to identify women with postpartum depression (PPD) or, even better, to predict which women are at highest risk for postpartum depressive illness. Â While postpartum depression is typically thought to be triggered by [...]