Essential Reads:Â Clinical Challenges in the Treatment of Perimenopausal Women with Schizophrenia
Women with schizophrenia may experience worsening of their symptoms as they transition into the menopause.Â
Food for Thought: Are Women with ADHD at Increased Risk for Hormonally Mediated Mood Disorders?
While for some adults, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is relatively mild and, with effective treatment, does not have a significant impact on overall functioning or quality of life. However, it is noteworthy that the majority of adults with ADHD have a diagnosed or undiagnosed comorbid psychiatric disorder, which can make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. A new study from the Netherlands indicates that women with ADHD may be more vulnerable to hormonally [...]
Essential Reads: Phenomenology, Epidemiology and Aetiology of Postpartum Psychosis: A Review
Postpartum psychosis affects 1 to 2 per 1000 women after childbirth. About 40% of women who experience postpartum psychosis do not have a history of psychiatric illness; however, women with bipolar disorder or a history of postpartum psychosis are at particularly high risk. While we know that childbirth is a potent trigger of severe psychiatric illness, the precise mechanisms by which postpartum psychosis occurs are poorly understood. This week’s Essential Read [...]
Using the WHIPLASHED Mnemonic to Distinguish Unipolar from Bipolar Depression
Women with bipolar disorder (BD) are at extremely high risk for postpartum psychiatric illness, including postpartum psychosis. While the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology now recommends that all women be screened for depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period, we have little information regarding the screening tools that are best suited for the identification of women with bipolar disorder. Many sites now use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for [...]
Reproductive psychiatry in 2021: Old questions and new challenges
Dr. Lee S. Cohen recently shared his insights on the practice of reproductive psychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic with ObGyn News
Essential Reads: More Data on ADHD Medications and Pregnancy
Women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often discontinue psychostimulant medications during pregnancy, especially if they have milder symptoms. While this approach makes sense in terms of limiting unnecessary exposures in women with what appears to be milder illness, we have often been surprised by clinical outcomes in this population, specifically when women who were previously high functioning experience significant psychiatric morbidity during pregnancy after discontinuation of stimulants. Supporting these clinical observations [...]