MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Bipolar Disorder and PMS

Premenstrual worsening of mood is common among women with depression, but little is known about how often women with bipolar disorder experience worsening of their mood premenstrually. In a study by Payne et al. (2007), premenstrual symptoms were reported by twice as many women diagnosed with mood disorders (mixture of Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder) than by women who did not have a psychiatric diagnosis (67.7% vs. 33.7%). These results suggest that PMS symptoms are particularly common in women with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. However, this study involved women reporting prior experiences with PMS, which is not always as accurate as studies that involve prospective monitoring to obtain real-time reporting of PMS symptoms. Such prospective studies of PMS in women with bipolar disorder are sparse and have inconsistent conclusions.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:38:38-04:00December 15th, 2008|Bipolar Disorder, Diagnosis & Screening, PMS & PMDD, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

Dr. Lee Cohen talks with Dr. Oz about Pregnancy and Mood Disorders on Oprah.com

Earlier this year, Dr. Lee S. Cohen, Director of the MGH Center for Women's Mental Health, spoke with Dr. Mehmet Oz from Oprah.com and a woman with bipolar disorder about mood disorders during pregnancy and weighing the risks of treatment options.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:15:34-04:00December 8th, 2008|Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Testosterone Patch Improves Sexual Functioning in Postmenopausal Women

Sexual dysfunction is common among postmenopausal women and include a spectrum of problems, including low (or hypoactive) sexual desire, decreased satisfaction, and discomfort. Reports indicate that the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire ranges from 9% in naturally postmenopausal women up to 26% in younger surgically postmenopausal women. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluates the effectiveness of the testosterone patch for postmenopausal women with low sexual desire.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:08:50-04:00December 1st, 2008|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Sexual Health, Treatment|Comments Off

Exercise and Depression

Exercise plays a vital role in achieving and maintaining good health. Along with numerous other health benefits, recent studies have shown that exercise alleviates symptoms of depression and may be useful in treating mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD). A study by Dunn and colleagues (2005) examined the efficacy of exercise as a treatment for depression, along with the dose-response relationship of exercise and reduction in depressive symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:05:36-04:00November 24th, 2008|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, General, Outcomes, Treatment|Comments Off

Substance Abuse Treatment During Pregnancy Improves Outcomes

Despite efforts over the last decade to increase awareness regarding the negative effects of alcohol and other drug use during pregnancy, substance abuse among pregnant women continues to be a significant problem in the United States. The 2003 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that 9.3% of pregnant women used alcohol and 4.3% percent of pregnant women used illicit drugs. In other countries, the prevalence of substance use and abuse may be even higher. For example, in a recent survey of pregnant women in Ireland, 54% admitted to drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:03:46-04:00November 17th, 2008|Outcomes, Perinatal Substance Use, Treatment|Comments Off

University of North Carolina Center for Mood Disorders Expands Services to Postpartum Women

Last Wednesday, the UNC Medical Center opened an outpatient clinic for women with postpartum depression, and on November 3rd opened an inpatient unit for women with postpartum depression. The inpatient unit is called "the first of its kind" in the United States, and is a progressive example of specialized health care initiatives for improved screening, diagnosis, and treatment of postpartum mood disorders in the US.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T11:48:26-04:00November 5th, 2008|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off

Depression during Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Preterm Delivery

A new study reported in Human Reproduction supports what many other studies have found, that untreated depression during pregnancy increases the likelihood of delivering before 37 weeks gestation.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T11:47:05-04:00November 3rd, 2008|Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Identifying Postpartum Depression: A Three Question Screening Tool

While postpartum depression is common among new mothers, our ability to reliably detect this illness remains poor. Recent studies have indicated that most obstetricians report that they screen for postpartum psychiatric problems at routine follow-up visits but typically do not use standardized instruments to assess for postpartum depression. Unfortunately, studies which have measured the success of routine screening suggest that without the use of standardized screening tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, many women with postpartum depression are not identified.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T11:45:03-04:00October 27th, 2008|Diagnosis & Screening, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

National Depression Screening Day – October 10, 2008

This Friday, October 10, is Screening for Mental Health's National Depression Screening Day, an effort to raise awareness for depression and its treatment.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-07-11T13:33:56-04:00October 9th, 2008|Women's Mental Health|Comments Off

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Women with Breast Cancer

Many women report vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, during the menopausal transition. While estrogen is clearly one of the most effective treatments for vasomotor symptoms, recent concerns regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have made treaters much more reluctant to recommend HRT, even for short-term management of vasomotor symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T15:17:58-04:00September 30th, 2008|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

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