Mindfulness Training During Pregnancy Reduces Risk of Postpartum Depression
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued recommendations that all pregnant and postpartum women should be evaluated in order to determine risk for depressive illness and recommends that women at increased risk for perinatal depression should be referred for counselling. While these recommendations focused primarily on the utility of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) in this setting, it is important to note that other behavioral and psychotherapeutic [...]
Weekly Roundup for NOVEMBER 20, 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. Several articles this week discuss peripartum post-traumatic stress disorder. While OB-GYNs have become more comfortable with the diagnosis and management of postpartum depression, Canfield and colleagues argue that few obstetric providers are aware [...]
Understanding the Psychological Consequences of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Most women have some nausea or vomiting, or “morning sickness”, during the first trimester of pregnancy. Some women, however, have a more severe and persistent pattern of nausea and vomiting called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). A new study demonstrates that depression is more common in women suffering from HG and that it may persist into the postpartum period. In this prospective case–control study, women from two London hospitals were assessed using [...]
New Research Study: Family-Based Intervention to Reduce Anxiety in 2- to 3-Year-Old Children
Anxiety disorders affect as many as 30% of children and adolescents, and the children of parents with an anxiety disorder have a higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder than the children of parents without an anxiety disorder. These disorders -- or the temperamental precursors of these disorders -- can be observed during early childhood, with about 10% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 already exhibiting anxiety [...]
Weekly Roundup for NOVEMBER 13, 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. In a randomized controlled trial, bright light therapy was no more effective than placebo (dim red light) for the treatment of depression during pregnancy. One the other hand, other RCTs have shown that [...]
Prenatal Valproic Acid (Depakote) Exposure Increases Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
While we have considerable information regarding the teratogenic risk associated with prenatal exposure to various antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), we have considerably less information on the impact of exposure to AEDs on behavioral outcomes in children. Several studies have shown that exposure to valproic acid (Depakote) may be associated with increased risk of autistic traits and/or attentional problems; however, we have less information on the risk of other behavior problems. In [...]