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 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently released recommendations on Screening for Depression in Adults. The Task Force recommended that clinicians screen ALL ADULTS for depression and noted that screening in the primary [...]
Heading up the roundup is a nice review on the use of natural phytoestrogens for the management menopausal symptoms which suggests that phytoestrogens are associated with modest reductions in hot flashes but have no effect [...]
Biomarkers (or biological markers) are used in many fields of medicine to provide objective information on normal or pathological biological processes and to predict response to therapeutic interventions. Researchers have long searched for biomarkers which [...]
Women are at significant risk for severe psychiatric illness after childbirth, particularly during the first three months. Suicide is a rare but tragic outcome of untreated psychiatric illness in this setting. In order to prevent [...]
Some of the most commonly visited posts on our website are related to smoking in pregnant and postpartum women. While smoking is a potential problem for all women, rates of tobacco use are higher among [...]
Several articles provide more data on the risks of marijuana use during pregnancy. Screening for postpartum depression in a pediatric clinic is feasible but does not necessarily lead to referrals. Have a great summer! [...]
There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote) during pregnancy. First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as [...]
The active form of vitamin D is produced by the human body as a byproduct of natural sun exposure; it is also found in certain foods, including some kinds of fish, egg yolks, and fortified [...]
For decades, researchers have postulated a connection between breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD). Many have suggested that breastfeeding may protect against postpartum depression and have suggested that the cessation of breastfeeding may be a trigger [...]
