Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders - 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

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

Treating Depression During Pregnancy Prevents Postpartum Depression

This is a relatively small study but I think it underscores the importance of screening for and treating depression during pregnancy. Previous studies have indicated that about 10% to 15% of women experience clinically significant [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-07-20T13:30:59-04:00February 26th, 2015|Depressive Disorders, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevention, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

Infertility Treatment May Increase the Risk of Postpartum Depression

While many women complain of psychological distress during infertility treatment, it has been somewhat unclear if the anxiety and depression women may experience is related to having to undergo infertility treatment or to the hormonal agents [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-06-16T14:45:01-04:00February 18th, 2015|Infertility and Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

Parent’s Suicide Attempt Increases a Child’s Risk of Suicide

Previous studies have shown that children who have lost a parent to suicide are more likely to attempt suicide than children whose parents died unintentionally. One obvious explanation for this finding is that the parents who attempt or commit suicide are more likely to have a mood disorder or serious psychiatric illness and that their children share this genetic vulnerability and are therefore more likely to have a psychiatric illness which increases their risk for suicide.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-04-03T11:11:21-04:00January 26th, 2015|Child Outcomes, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

Many studies have observed that postpartum depression may negatively affect the mother-infant relationship and may thus impede bonding and attachment and negatively affect the development of the young child. A recent study explores the use of Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy (PDP), a dual-focused mother-infant intervention designed to prevent and/or decrease depressive symptoms in the mother and to improve aspects of the mother-infant relationship related to child development.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-04-03T13:21:16-04:00December 28th, 2014|Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychotherapy, Treatment|Comments Off

Women with Epilepsy at Higher Risk for Perinatal Depression

A recent study examined the prevalence and risk factors for perinatal depression and anxiety in a group of Norwegian women with epilepsy (n = 706) compared to pregnancies in all women without epilepsy (n = 106,511).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-07-21T11:07:25-04:00December 23rd, 2014|Depressive Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Acupuncture for Postpartum Depression

85 women with postpartum depression were randomized to receive acupuncture plus psychological intervention (five sessions per week) or treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg per day). The two groups were treated continuously for six weeks. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Hamilton Depression scale (HAMD).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-05-02T11:37:02-04:00December 22nd, 2014|Alternative & Complementary, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off

Postpartum Depression and Positive Parenting Practices

How does postpartum depression affect a mother’s ability to care for and parent her child? Various studies have demonstrated that depressed mothers may be less attuned to their children’s needs, either being less responsive to the baby or, in some cases, too intrusive. Researchers have speculated that this mismatch between mother and baby may contribute to problems with infant bonding, delays in development and emotional dysregulation.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-11-10T12:20:00-04:00November 10th, 2014|Child Outcomes, Outcomes, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

Pilot Study: Aripiprazole Added to Antidepressants for Postpartum Depression

Augmentation strategies can be used to optimize response in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have not responded adequately to antidepressant monotherapy; however, we have no data on the use of adjunctive treatments in women with postpartum depression (PPD). A recent study tested the effectiveness of antidepressant augmentation with aripiprazole (Abilify) in a cohort of 10 women with onset of a depression within 3 months of the birth of a healthy, close-to-term baby.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-10-23T14:38:03-04:00October 27th, 2014|Medication, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off