Monthly Archives: February 2005

Depression during pregnancy is relatively common, affecting about 10 to 15% of women. While there is a growing body of literature supporting the reproductive safety of certain antidepressants, our understanding of how these psychotropic medications affect the developing fetus remains incomplete. For this reason, many women and their physicians would prefer to avoid the use of antidepressants during pregnancy; thus, there is a clear need for effective non-pharmacologic treatments for women who suffer from depression during pregnancy. In a recent study from Dr. Rachel Manber and her colleagues at Stanford University, the use of acupuncture is assessed in a group of pregnant depressed women.