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

PTSD in Veterans Increases Risk of Preterm Birth

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is relatively common among pregnant and postpartum women. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD for women is about 10%. PTSD is most prevalent among women of childbearing age and PTSD symptoms are common during pregnancy. Earlier this year, we reported on a study which observed that women with a diagnosis of PTSD had an increased risk of preterm birth. The risk was particularly high in those women with diagnoses of both PTSD and a major depressive episode; these women had a 4-fold increased risk of preterm birth.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-11-12T14:59:10-04:00November 11th, 2014|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Women's Mental Health|0 Comments

New Research from the CWMH: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Increase Gestational Length

Women with psychiatric disorders represent an at-risk population for premature delivery and other obstetrical complications. This study assesses the association between omega-3 fatty acid use and length of gestation. In an unadjusted model, there was [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-31T21:40:11-04:00October 31st, 2014|New Research, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

SSRI Exposure during Pregnancy: What’s Enough Data?

The following post was first published in OB/GYN News.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-03-25T08:30:49-04:00October 31st, 2014|ObGyn News, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|1 Comment

Anti-Epileptic Drugs and Risk of Miscarriage

Do anti-epileptic drugs increase the risk for miscarriage and/or stillbirth? Many reports have demonstrated an association between the use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy and increased risk of congenital malformations and pregnancy complications, including pre-eclampsia, [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-10-20T13:50:06-04:00October 22nd, 2014|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Women's Mental Health|0 Comments

Prenatal Valproate Exposure and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which include childhood autism, autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, atypical autism, and other pervasive developmental disorders, are characterized by social and communication difficulties and by stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests. It [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-10-10T10:45:53-04:00October 15th, 2014|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Women's Mental Health|0 Comments

Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Schizophrenia

With the advent of the newer, atypical antipsychotic medications, patients with psychotic disorders have been able to achieve greater symptom control with less disabling side effects. For women with schizophrenia, there has also been an increase in fertility rates over the last decade. Previous studies have suggested that women with schizophrenia, as compared to women with no psychiatric illness, are at increased risk for pregnancy and delivery complications, including low birthweight, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm birth. However, most of these studies occurred at a time when the women were treated with older antipsychotic medications, and we cannot assume that these findings are relevant now, when women with schizophrenia are more commonly treated with the newer atypical antipsychotics and have much better control of their symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-10-20T13:50:39-04:00October 14th, 2014|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|1 Comment

Poor Sleep Quality Predicts Severity of Postpartum Depression

All women are at risk for postpartum depression (PPD), and there is growing evidence to suggest that poor sleep during pregnancy and the postpartum period may be a risk factor for the development of depression. [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-11T10:05:07-04:00September 22nd, 2014|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments

Women Who Stop SSRIs Prior to Pregnancy Have Same Risk of Miscarriage as Women who elect to Remain on SSRI Antidepressants

Some, but not all, studies have demonstrated an increased risk of miscarriage among women who take antidepressants. However, it has been difficult to determine whether this increased risk was related to exposure to the medication [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-15T13:25:58-04:00September 17th, 2014|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Women's Mental Health|0 Comments

Better Peripartum Pain Management: An Intervention to Reduce Risk of Postpartum Depression

A recent report suggests that epidural labor analgesia is associated with a decreased risk of postpartum depression (PPD). This prospective study included 214 pregnant women from Beijing, China who were preparing for a vaginal delivery. Epidural [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-15T13:15:10-04:00September 16th, 2014|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Women's Mental Health|0 Comments

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) Exposure and Risk of Cardiac Malformations

Bupropion is commonly used to treat depression, and is also prescribed to support smoking cessation. Early data on bupropion-exposure during pregnancy raised concern for a possible increase in risk of malformations of the heart and large blood vessels in bupropion-exposed infants. Subsequent data from bupropion pregnancy registries has been reassuring, however, and do not demonstrate an overall increase in risk of cardiac defects following first trimester bupropion exposure. Although the overall risk of cardiac defects was not increased, the distribution of specific defects in these registries was unexpected in some ways. For example, the GlaxoSmithKline Bupropion Pregnancy Registry included two cases of coarctation of the aorta out of the 675 bupropion-exposed infants, compared to the rate of 6 cases per 10,000 births in the general population.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-11T09:57:22-04:00September 11th, 2014|Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|0 Comments