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

Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy: Should Medications Be Discontinued?

As many of the traditional mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder, including lithium and valproic acid, carry some teratogenic risk and the reproductive safety of other medications, including the atypical antipsychotic agents, has not been well-characterized, many women with bipolar disorder decide to discontinue their treatment during pregnancy. A new study from Dr. Adele Viguera and her colleagues at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Emory University School of Medicine helps to better define the risks associated with discontinuing treatment during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:38:38-04:00March 7th, 2008|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Bipolar Disorder, Child Outcomes, Mood Stabilizers, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Depression is More Common in Women with High Risk Pregnancies

Epidemiologic studies suggest that about 10% to 15% of women suffer from clinically significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Little is known, however, about the prevalence of depression among women with high risk pregnancies. A recent study published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that this population may be at significant risk for antenatal depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:36:02-04:00March 6th, 2008|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Medication Changes During Pregnancy

At our clinic we have the opportunity to see patients at various stages of pregnancy. When we evaluate a patient while she is still in the planning stages, we may recommend changing medications to those that have a better studied safety profile during pregnancy and see how she does on those medications prior to conception. If that same patient came into our clinic for an evaluation, but was already pregnant, we may make different recommendations than if she was in the planning stages.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:08:23-04:00February 28th, 2008|Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

A Message from Lee S. Cohen MD, Director

To all our readers:

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:21:03-04:00February 26th, 2008|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Reproductive Age Women Need Folic Acid

A few weeks ago, January 7-13, 2008, was National Folic Acid Awareness Week at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), therefore we wanted to take the opportunity to remind women of the importance of folic acid in the prevention of birth defects. Folic acid can prevent from 50-70% of neural tube defects, which are defects of the spine (spina bifida) or the skull (anencephaly). Spina bifida is the leading cause of childhood paralysis and anencephaly is nearly always fatal.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-07-27T12:48:15-04:00February 7th, 2008|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

ECT and Pregnancy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for depression, with response rates that are consistently higher than those observed in clinical trials of antidepressants. Furthermore, ECT may be more effective than medications for treatment-refractory depression. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recommends ECT for patients who have had previous positive response to ECT or who are non-responsive to pharmacological treatments, as well as for those patients who experience severe psychiatric symptoms, including depression with psychosis. suicidal ideation, and mania.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-07-11T13:49:02-04:00January 30th, 2008|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

What About Vagus Nerve Stimulation?

Vagus Nerve Stimulation, or VNS, has been available for the treatment of epilepsy since 1997 and was approved by the FDA for the adjunctive treatment of refractory depression in 2005. VNS relies upon the use of a surgically implanted device which delivers periodic stimulation to the vagus nerve. How VNS therapy works is not completely understood; however, several studies have suggested that this technique may be effective for some patients with treatment-resistant depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T11:13:00-04:00December 14th, 2007|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

How to Treat Anxiety Symptoms During Pregnancy

Click here to see an updated version of this post.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T11:11:38-04:00December 11th, 2007|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Treatment of Insomnia During Pregnancy

Most women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy, and for a significant number of women sleep disruption may be quite severe. There are many different causes for sleep disturbance during pregnancy, and choosing the appropriate intervention relies on an accurate diagnosis of the problem.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-12-11T09:41:07-04:00November 19th, 2007|Pregnancy & Medications, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Sleep Disorders|Comments Off

Binge Eating Disorder is More Common during Pregnancy

While it appears that many women with eating disorders may experience a remission of their symptoms during pregnancy, a new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and the University of Oslo, Norway suggests that binge eating disorder may be triggered during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T10:36:36-04:00October 27th, 2007|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off