Is Postpartum Depression a Distinct Subtype of Depression? Taking a Closer Look at the Amygdala
While many women with postpartum depression (PPD) have had previous episodes of major depression and will go on to have other episodes of depression outside of the postpartum period, many have questioned whether postpartum depression represents a specific subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD), postulating that there may be characteristics which distinguish depression emerging during the postpartum period from depression occurring at other times in a woman’s lifetime. The most distinctive [...]
Measuring the Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Children’s Social-Emotional Development
Over the last few years, the medical community has been using the term perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) to describe the spectrum of psychological symptoms women may experience during pregnancy or the postpartum period. This shift reflects the realization that the term “postpartum depression” describes only the tip of a much larger iceberg; many women experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy, as well as the postpartum period. Furthermore, anxiety symptoms [...]
Virtual Rounds with CWMH Extended through November
Over the past seven months, the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health has had the tremendous opportunity to host virtual rounds from 2-3pm EST via Zoom for all health professionals with an interest in reproductive psychiatry and women’s mental health. We have reached over 400 students and practitioners in 33 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and 5 additional countries. Invaluable contributions from our guests panelists, as well as the thoughtful questions [...]
Weekly Roundup for OCTOBER 3rd, 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. We are seeing an increased number of articles looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women and their families. Interestingly, the studies show a [...]
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Associated with Psychopathology in Older Children
Despite decreasing rates of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, the use of cannabis use during pregnancy is on the rise. According to data collected from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the use of cannabis in pregnant women aged 18 to 44 years rose from 2.37% in 2002 to 3.85% in 2014 in the United States, with 21.1% of cannabis users reporting that they used cannabis on a [...]
Suicidality in Midlife Women: A Brief Overview
Although it is widely accepted that perimenopausal women are at increased risk for depressive symptoms, little research exploring suicidality in mid-life women has been conducted. In the spirit of Suicide Prevention Month, we will review here the risk of suicidality in midlife women and what factors may be at play in modulating this risk. Prior to 1999, the United States experienced a steadily declining rate of mortality for midlife adults, a [...]