MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

SSRI Exposure During Pregnancy Does Not Appear to Affect Infant Growth

Some studies have shown an association between in utero exposure to antidepressants and various pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery, low birth weight, and lower Apgar scores; however, these outcomes have also been observed in infants born to depressed mothers who are not taking medication. Thus, it has been difficult to determine if there is a causal relationship between antidepressant exposure and these negative pregnancy outcomes or if untreated maternal depression is itself responsible for these negative outcomes.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:14:10-04:00April 18th, 2013|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off

Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Pregnancy

Despite the fact that gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings -- for epilepsy, pain management, anxiety, sleep disturbance – there is relatively little information regarding its reproductive safety. A prospective study from researchers at the Motherisk program reports on the outcomes of 223 pregnancies exposed to gabapentin and 223 unexposed pregnancies.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:47:38-04:00April 15th, 2013|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

FDA Announces Approval of a New (Old) Medication for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

The combination of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), to be marketed as Diclegis, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. A similar combination was previously sold under the name Bendectin but was pulled from the market in 1983 because there were concerns regarding its reproductive safety. (Bendectin originally contained dicyclomine which was later removed due to lack of efficacy.)

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:49:48-04:00April 11th, 2013|Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Hormonal Treatments for Breast Cancer: Do They Cause Depression?

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are the preferred hormonal therapy for postmenopausal women with estrogen sensitive breast cancer. While the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, are used in premenopausal women with estrogen sensitive breast cancer, the aromatase inhibitors (e.g., anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane) have been shown to be more effective and safer than the SERMs in postmenopausal women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:57:42-04:00April 9th, 2013|Breast Cancer, Depressive Disorders, Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms|Comments Off

Screening for Postpartum Depression: New Data on the EPDS

For women the postpartum period is a time of increased vulnerability to mood disorders. Recent estimates indicate that about 20% of women will suffer from significant depressive symptoms during the year after the birth of a child. Despite a significant push over the last decade to identify and effectively treat women with mood disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period, treatment rates in this population remain unacceptably low. Furthermore, questions still remain regarding the optimal timing of screening and the best instruments to be used in this setting.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:59:45-04:00April 2nd, 2013|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

L-Methylfolate for the Treatment of Depression: Can We Use it During Pregnancy?

Last summer, we posted a blog about using folate to treat (and perhaps prevent) depression in women of childbearing age. Supporting that recommendation are the several reports indicating that people with lower folate levels are at higher risk of major depression or may experience more severe depressive symptoms. Other studies have indicated that in folate-deficient patients, antidepressants may be less effective or may take longer to take effect.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-06-15T10:45:27-04:00March 25th, 2013|Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Postpartum Depression in New Fathers: Being Younger is A Risk Factor

While postpartum depression (PPD) is typically considered to be a woman’s illness, a number of studies have suggested that, although men do not experience any of the dramatic physiologic or hormonal changes that go along with pregnancy, new fathers may also suffer from PPD. Several recent studies yield information on how to better identify new fathers at risk for depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T12:57:20-04:00March 19th, 2013|Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

Using the EPDS to Screen for Anxiety Disorders: Conceptual and Methodological Considerations

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was designed to screen women for postnatal depression. Cox and Holden (2003) state that the EPDS was not designed to measure anxiety. However, recent emphasis on the importance of recognizing symptoms of perinatal anxiety disorders, coupled with findings in research, have led to the suggestion that the EPDS may be used as a multidimensional tool to screen for anxiety disorders in addition to depression during the perinatal period (Matthey et al, 2012).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-11-04T14:35:42-04:00March 11th, 2013|Anxiety Disorders, Diagnosis & Screening, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Antidepressants and Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis Puts the Risks into a Larger Context

While some studies have shown an association between in utero exposure to antidepressants and various pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery, low birth weight, and lower Apgar scores, these outcomes have also been linked to untreated maternal depression. Thus, it has been difficult to determine if there is a causal relationship between antidepressant exposure and negative pregnancy outcomes or whether maternal depression is itself responsible for these negative outcomes.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T13:22:16-04:00March 1st, 2013|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off

Binge Drinking Common among Women of Reproductive Age

The CDC recently analyzed data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to determine the prevalence, frequency, and intensity of binge drinking among adult women. Data from the 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was used to assess current alcohol use and binge drinking among high school girls.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-07-10T15:57:55-04:00February 11th, 2013|Alcohol, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

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