MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Intergenerational Transmission of Depression: Telomere Shortening and Cortisol Reactivity in Girls at High Risk for Depression

In every cell, genetic material is contained within the double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes. Every time a cell divides, the chromosomes are copied so that each new cell gets a copy of this genetic material. However, the process isn’t perfect – a little bit of the end of the chromosome is lost each time so the copy is not a perfect reproduction. To prevent important genetic material from being lost, the cell protects itself with structures called telomeres located at the ends of the chromosomes. Telomeres are repeating DNA sequences and proteins that act like a guard so that when the chromosome is copied, the important material is protected and only the telomere is shortened. Since telomere shortening happens every time the cell divides, telomeres act like biological clocks for the cell. When the chromosome has been copied enough times that the telomere has been completely worn away, any future copies of the chromosome may be missing important genetic material and the cell may cease to function normally.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-04-30T13:42:04-04:00April 1st, 2015|Child Outcomes, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

You Asked: Is It Safe to Take Melatonin During Pregnancy?

Many women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. For a significant number of women, the sleep disruption may be so severe as to require some type of intervention. In a previous post, we discussed the use of different types of medications to treat insomnia during pregnancy. While these drugs are highly effective, many women with sleep problems inquire about the use of “natural” agents, such as melatonin, during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-09-13T08:39:24-04:00March 30th, 2015|Alternative & Complementary, Pregnancy & Medications, Sleep Disorders, You Asked|Comments Off

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Depression in Young Women

Vitamin D deficiency is more common than ever, and many experts are concerned that this deficiency may lead to a wide variety of health problems, including depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-04-01T10:21:14-04:00March 26th, 2015|Depressive Disorders, General|Comments Off

Does Caffeine Make Menopausal Symptoms Worse?

Studies evaluating the relationship of caffeine to vasomotor symptoms have yielded conflicting results.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-03-24T10:54:03-04:00March 24th, 2015|Menopausal Symptoms, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Abuse as a Risk Factor for Perinatal Depression

Two recent reports explore the relationship between abuse and risk for perinatal depression. The first is a study which analyzed data from 53,065 pregnant women participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-07T11:30:43-04:00March 16th, 2015|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

What is S-Equol? Does It Really Work for Menopausal Symptoms?

Approximately 70% of all women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats (also called vasomotor symptoms or VMS) during the menopause transition. Although estrogen-containing hormone therapy is highly effective in managing these symptoms, various studies have raised concerns regarding the risks associated with prolonged use of hormone therapy and many women now use other non-hormonal options to manage their symptoms, including over-the-counter complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), including soy isoflavones, black cohosh, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, the data regarding the effectiveness of these alternative treatments has been mixed.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-03-13T12:29:59-04:00March 13th, 2015|Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Some Risk But No Impact on Mortality

While there are concerns regarding the risks associated with prolonged use of hormone replacement, an increasing number of studies suggest that the risk may be relatively low in certain settings. A study presented this week at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting which analyzed data from 43 randomized clinical trials suggests that menopausal hormone-replacement therapy does not appear to affect mortality either positively or negatively.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-05T10:19:09-04:00March 12th, 2015|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

What is The Best Screening Tool for Antenatal Depression

About 10% to 15% of women experience clinically significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Furthermore, women with a history of major depression appear to be at high risk for recurrent illness during pregnancy particularly in the [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-03-03T14:36:33-04:00March 6th, 2015|Depressive Disorders, Diagnosis & Screening, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Pregnancy Loss May Affect Mood in Subsequent Pregnancies

Many women experience the loss of a pregnancy at some time in their lives. It is estimated that about 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. In the United States, another 14% end in termination.1 [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-11-04T08:28:32-04:00March 4th, 2015|Depressive Disorders, Pregnancy Loss, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

You Asked: Is Duloxetine (Cymbalta) Safe To Use During Pregnancy?

You can find a more recent post on this topic here: Venlafaxine and Duloxetine: Pooled Analysis Shows No Increase in Risk of Malformations We receive a fair number of questions on the use of duloxetine [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-11-03T13:26:11-04:00March 3rd, 2015|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations, You Asked|Comments Off

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