Impaired Maternal Infant Bonding More Common in Women with Severe Postpartum Depression
Maternal psychiatric illness can profoundly affect how a mother interacts with her child and is a risk factor for impaired mother-infant bonding, which may include a spectrum of difficulties: decreased maternal affective involvement, increased irritability, aggressive impulses, or, at worst, outright rejection of the infant (Brockington et al, 2006). It is important to note, however, that not all women with postpartum psychiatric illness experience impaired bonding. A new study from Women [...]
CBT is Effective for Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a type of psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Recently, several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that CBT is effective for managing vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women.
Untreated Menopausal Symptoms: The Bottom Line ($$$)
Here's a new way to look at hot flashes. How much do they cost our society in terms of additional health care and lost productivity?
Poor Sleep Quality Predicts Severity of Postpartum Depression
All women are at risk for postpartum depression (PPD), and there is growing evidence to suggest that poor sleep during pregnancy and the postpartum period may be a risk factor for the development of depression. A recent longitudinal study supports the hypothesis that disrupted sleep may contribute to the emergence and extent of postpartum depression symptoms. This was a small study, including 25 healthy primiparous women were recruited from their outpatient [...]
EPDS Modified to Screen for Lifetime Perinatal Depression
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was modified by adding lifetime PND screening questions, assessing worst episode, and symptom timing of onset, in order to assess the lifetime prevalence of perinatal depression. Subjects from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) were screened using the EPDS-Lifetime. Of 682 women with lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) and a live birth, 276 (40.4%) had a positive EPDS score of >11 consistent with [...]
Women Who Stop SSRIs Prior to Pregnancy Have Same Risk of Miscarriage as Women who elect to Remain on SSRI Antidepressants
Some, but not all, studies have demonstrated an increased risk of miscarriage among women who take antidepressants. However, it has been difficult to determine whether this increased risk was related to exposure to the medication or to exposure to other risk factors, including maternal depression. Several recent studies have been reassuring and indicate that antidepressants do not increase the risk, although women who suffer from mood disorders probably carry a slightly [...]