Earlier this week, a deadly explosion erupted at an arena in Manchester, England, where the American pop singer Ariana Grande was performing. One of the most horrifying aspects of the Manchester bombing is that this act of terrorism seemed to target women and children. Among the injured and dead are young women, children and teens, […]
It is clear that screening for perinatal depression substantially improves detection; however, screening alone does not appear to improve rates of treatment or outcomes. What we find is that many, if not most, women with perinatal depression do not receive adequate care. There appear to be many obstacles: stigma associated with mental illness, lack of […]
There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy. First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as an increased risk of other malformations affecting the heart, limbs, and genitals. Prenatal exposure to valproate may also result in […]
PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder has always been a bit of mystery. We explain that PMDD is triggered by changes in reproductive hormone levels, but when you look at hormone levels in women with PMDD, they do not differ significantly from the hormone levels of women without PMDD. Another question is why some women […]
According to data from the 2002-2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the prevalence of marijuana use was 3.8% in pregnant women (n=14,400), compared to 7.5% in nonpregnant women (n=395,600). The investigators observed that marijuana use was higher in the first trimester (6.4%) than in the second (3.3%) or third (1.8%) trimesters. Marijuana use […]
In 2015, we first reported on SAGE-547 (SAGE Therapeutics), a new medication for the treatment of severe postpartum depression. SAGE-547, now called brexanolone, is an allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors. This drug was initially under investigation for the treatment of refractory seizure disorders but it turned out to be a good antidepressant. The information we […]
Maintenance treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of relapse in women with bipolar disorder; however, many of the mood stabilizers commonly used in this setting, including lithium and valproic acid, carry some degree of teratogenic risk. In contrast, lamotrigine (Lamictal) appears to be a much safer option for […]
A slow week. There is more concerning data regarding the use of marijuana in pregnant women, which is prevalent in pregnant teens. And an elegant study from Peter Schmidt and David Rubinow which gives us more information regarding the etiology of PMDD and potential strategies for its management. Marijuana Use During Stages […]
Over the years, we have seen a number of research studies which suggested a link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and adverse psychiatric outcomes in offspring, including increased risk for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In a recent article published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers reported on the results of a population-based cohort study […]
Beta blockers are the most commonly used class of medication for treating cardiac conditions in pregnant women. They are also effective for the treatment of anxiety symptoms, most commonly performance anxiety. According to a report published online in JAMA Internal Medicine, maternal use of beta-blockers during pregnancy (n=4847) was associated with increased risk for fetal […]
