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 [...]
Weekly Roundup for OCTOBER 23, 2020: Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health
Every week we review the most recent publications in women’s mental health, covering topics related to premenstrual symptoms, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, use of medications in pregnant and breastfeeding women, perinatal substance use, and menopausal mental health. Over the years, we have seen multiple studies which have demonstrated the impact of maternal depressive symptoms on children’s development and behavior. It has been more difficult to quantify the impact of exposure [...]
Next MGH Online Course on Women’s Mental Health Starts November: Register Today
We completed our first MGH Women’s Mental Health online CME program in the Fall of 2019, and we are so excited to offer our next round of the course beginning in November 2020. Thank you for those who have participated in past cycles! The next course begins on November 2nd, and registration is available through the MGH Psych Academy now! This online course will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of [...]
New (But Still Not Enough) Data on Modafinil and Pregnancy
Modafinil (brand name Provigil) is a wake-promoting agent which is used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, or obstructive sleep apnea. It is also used in other settings, often in combination with other medications, to treat ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction. In 2018, an interim report from a registry established by the manufacturer of modafinil released data indicating a prevalence of 15% for major [...]
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Depression during Pregnancy Shows Promising Results
While depression is relatively common in pregnancy and we have data to support the reproductive safety of many different antidepressants, many women are reluctant to use antidepressant medications during pregnancy. Because untreated depression in the mother has been associated with worse pregnancy outcomes and may have long term effects on the child, there is a clear need for effective and safe strategies for the treatment of depression during pregnancy. Transcranial [...]
Low-Dose Testosterone for Depression in Women: Does It Work?
In women, testosterone is produced by the ovaries in small amounts; however, levels of testosterone decline with age, independent of menopausal status. Low-dose testosterone has been used to improve sexual functioning in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. In addition, other studies have shown that testosterone may improve fatigue and depressive symptoms. However, these studies were carried out in women who were not formally diagnosed with depression. A recent collaborative [...]