Prevention - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

New Research from the CWMH: CBT to Reduce Risk of Relapse in Women Attempting to Discontinue Antidepressants

Pregnancy is a time of risk for women with histories of major depression. In a study where 201 women with histories of recurrent depression were followed prospectively through pregnancy, 43% experienced a relapse of major depression during pregnancy. Relapse rates were highest in the group of women who elected to discontinue antidepressant treatment proximate to conception (68% as compared to 26% in the group of women who maintained antidepressant treatment).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:02:51-04:00July 1st, 2014|Depressive Disorders, Prevention, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Psychotherapy, Research at CWMH|Comments Off

Positive Parenting Can Reduce Risk for Postpartum Depression

A recent study investigated the effectiveness of two pediatric primary care interventions for reducing the risk for postpartum depressive symptoms. The researchers tested two interventions designed to promote parental responsiveness: Video Interaction Project (VIP) is [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-07T14:38:31-04:00April 15th, 2014|Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevention, Psychotherapy|Comments Off

Folic Acid Supplements Before and After Conception: Prevention of Autism

In a recent editorial in The Annals of Internal Medicine entitled “Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements,” authors make a case that multivitamins are not a good value (Dec 17, 2013 issue). This editorial was based on new research that demonstrated that there was no association between multivitamin use and rates of mortality, cognitive decline and recurrent cardiovascular events in three different studies. The assertion that multivitamins are not worth the money was widely reported in the media.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-05-15T20:32:46-04:00January 29th, 2014|Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Prevention, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

New Baby 101: Practical Intervention Strategy Reduces the Risk of Postpartum Depression

An intervention teaching new parents about normal infant sleeping and crying patterns and providing them with techniques for infant settling improves mothers' depression scores. There were no differences in scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 4 months, but at 6 months, caregivers in the intervention group were almost half as likely to score higher than 9 on the EPDS, with 7.9% scoring higher than 9 in the intervention group vs. 12.9% in the control cohort (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.57).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-07T14:53:22-04:00January 13th, 2014|Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevention, Psychotherapy|Comments Off

Facilitating Smoking Cessation in Pregnant Women: An Innovative Web-Based Training for Healthcare Professionals

Women who smoke during pregnancy are at greater risk for certain complications, including placental previa, placental abruption, and premature rupture of the membranes, and premature delivery. Furthermore, infants of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to be small for gestational age and are at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-10T15:42:16-04:00October 27th, 2012|Nicotine, Perinatal Substance Use, Prevention|Comments Off

Weight Loss and a Low-Fat Diet Help to Reduce Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women

Various studies have shown that women with a higher body mass index (BMI) or a higher percent of body fat have more frequent or more severe menopausal symptoms. In a recent study, researchers evaluated the impact of a low-fat diet on vasomotor symptoms in a group of 17,473 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:19:50-04:00August 8th, 2012|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Prevention, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

A Simple Educational Intervention Reduces the Risk of Postpartum Intervention

While postpartum depression can affect all women, there are certain populations which appear to be at particularly high risk, including women of lower socioeconomic status. These women have limited access to resources and have multiple stressors including housing problems, financial strain, and being a single parent. Researchers recently piloted an intervention randomized controlled trial involving 540 participants at an inner-city hospital in East Harlem, New York. The primary goal of this psychoeducational intervention was to reduce the risk of postpartum depression among black and Latina mothers.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:08:04-04:00July 2nd, 2012|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevention|Comments Off

Postpartum Psychosis Can be Prevented in Women at High Risk

Women with bipolar disorder or history of postpartum psychosis are at high risk for postpartum psychosis; appropriate interventions significantly decrease this risk.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-12-06T09:21:55-04:00June 6th, 2012|Medication, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Postpartum Psychosis, Prevention|Comments Off

CBT for the Prevention of Postpartum OCD

Given the prevalence of postpartum OCD and obsessive symptoms in women with postpartum depression, we should devote more time to this topic. This is an informative and well-written article by Alice Wolton on postpartum OCD in Forbes. In this piece, she mentions a recent study from Timpano and colleagues at the University of Miami where cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was used to prevent postpartum OCD.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:52:07-04:00June 5th, 2012|Anxiety Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevention, Psychotherapy|Comments Off

ACOG Focuses on Smoking Cessation in Pregnant and Postpartum Women

In the November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued recommendations to providers regarding efforts to support smoking cessation in pregnant and postpartum women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2017-05-05T11:50:17-04:00November 10th, 2010|Nicotine, Perinatal Substance Use, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevention, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off