Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Prepregnancy Depressive Mood is a Risk Factor for Preterm Birth

There have been multiple studies suggesting that depression during pregnancy increases the risk for preterm labor. Most studies do not attribute this increase in risk to antidepressant exposure, but to the effects of the depression itself. The mechanism is believed to be related to increased levels of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) which is triggered by stress. Elevated levels of CRH have been shown to be a predictor of preterm birth.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:53:20-04:00July 28th, 2009|Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

OCD in Pregnant and Postpartum Women

The lifetime prevalence rate of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been consistently estimated to be 2%-3% in the general adult population throughout the world, making OCD one of more common psychiatric diagnoses; however research on OCD in pregnancy and peurperium has been limited.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:45:14-04:00June 18th, 2009|Anxiety Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Maternal Depression During Pregnancy May Lead to Infant Sleep Problems

About 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy, and many reports have suggested that depression during pregnancy may have negative effects on the fetus. A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan indicates a link between depression during pregnancy and infant sleep problems.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:34:16-04:00May 12th, 2009|Child Outcomes, Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Using New Research to Inform Treatment Decisions during Pregnancy: A Case Report

As more research is conducted within the field of women's mental health, there are times when recommendations may change depending on the available data. We will discuss a case here to illustrate this point.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:09:25-04:00March 17th, 2009|Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorders, Medication, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

Case: Prevention of Mood Episodes When Planning for Pregnancy

Our Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry team often discusses clinical cases in Rounds, a confidential forum in which we can get advice and consultation from peers who also work in the area of Women's Mental Health. We discussed a patient's situation recently that highlighted the controversial area about how to prevent mood episodes in a woman planning for pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:05:35-04:00March 2nd, 2009|Depressive Disorders, Prevention, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Severe Pregnancy Stress May Increase Schizophrenia Risk in Offspring

A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry shows that children of women who experience the death of a close relative may have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. This study was conducted with records of children born in Denmark between 1973 and 1995, which were then linked to the central registry containing inpatient and outpatient treatment records. It consisted of 1.38 million individuals, including 21,978 children whose mothers experienced death of a close relative during the pregnancy, and 14,206 children of mothers who experienced illness of a close relative during the pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T13:55:54-04:00February 10th, 2009|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Used to Treat Depression in Pregnancy

Mood disorders and symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period are not uncommon and affect women across the world. In spite of relatively high rates of depression among childbearing women, there are often inadequate resources for treatment, particularly in poorer countries. In countries lacking resources, health care is often managed by community health workers or individuals with basic health care training who provide care to difficult-to-reach populations. There are often few mental health professionals, leaving many women without adequate treatment. In an attempt to provide treatment to a greater number of women, some investigators are attempting to train community health workers to provide some psychotherapy as part of their standard duties.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-14T12:20:53-04:00January 13th, 2009|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|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

Folic Acid Supplementation is Recommended for All Women Taking Anticonvulsants and Planning Pregnancy

Given recent discussions within our group and with our colleague, Lewis Holmes, MD, chief of the Genetics and Teratology Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and director of the North American AED (Antiepileptic Drug) Pregnancy Registry, I wanted to expand upon a previous blog post. In the initial post, I wrote that women who take certain medications, like mood stabilizers or antiepileptic drugs, are advised to take increased doses of folic acid before pregnancy and throughout pregnancy.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:08:21-04:00November 11th, 2008|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Bipolar Disorder, Medication, Mood Stabilizers, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, 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