Treatment - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Substance Abuse Treatment During Pregnancy Improves Outcomes

Despite efforts over the last decade to increase awareness regarding the negative effects of alcohol and other drug use during pregnancy, substance abuse among pregnant women continues to be a significant problem in the United States. The 2003 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that 9.3% of pregnant women used alcohol and 4.3% percent of pregnant women used illicit drugs. In other countries, the prevalence of substance use and abuse may be even higher. For example, in a recent survey of pregnant women in Ireland, 54% admitted to drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:03:46-04:00November 17th, 2008|Outcomes, Perinatal Substance Use, Treatment|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

University of North Carolina Center for Mood Disorders Expands Services to Postpartum Women

Last Wednesday, the UNC Medical Center opened an outpatient clinic for women with postpartum depression, and on November 3rd opened an inpatient unit for women with postpartum depression. The inpatient unit is called "the first of its kind" in the United States, and is a progressive example of specialized health care initiatives for improved screening, diagnosis, and treatment of postpartum mood disorders in the US.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T11:48:26-04:00November 5th, 2008|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Women with Breast Cancer

Many women report vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, during the menopausal transition. While estrogen is clearly one of the most effective treatments for vasomotor symptoms, recent concerns regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have made treaters much more reluctant to recommend HRT, even for short-term management of vasomotor symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T15:17:58-04:00September 30th, 2008|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Menopausal Hot Flashes: A Pilot Study

Hot flashes are a common and distressing symptom of menopause, affecting approximately 60-70 % of women undergoing the menopausal transition. Several pharmacologic treatments for hot flashes, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some antidepressants, have been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. However, some women prefer not to use HRT or antidepressants and seek alternative treatments, such as homeopathic or herbal remedies. Many of these alternative treatments have not yet been evaluated for safety or efficacy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T15:16:17-04:00September 29th, 2008|Menopausal Symptoms, Psychotherapy, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Estrogen for the Treatment of Women with Schizophrenia

There is cumulative evidence suggesting that estrogen might play a role in the development of schizophrenia and therefore may be useful in the treatment of this illness. On average, the first signs of schizophrenia appear 3 to 4 years later in women than in men, with a second peak in women around menopause. Interestingly, men suffering from schizophrenia exacerbation demonstrate low serum estrogen and androgen levels. Estrogen has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects in treating hormonally mediated affective disorders such as postnatal depression or perimenopausal depression. A recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry suggests that estrogen may also be beneficial for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T14:46:54-04:00September 22nd, 2008|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off

Citalopram (Celexa) Effective for Treating Hot Flashes

For decades, estrogen has been used to treat menopausal symptoms, including night sweats and hot flushes. However, after studies reported that estrogen may have an adverse effect on risk for cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, many patients and clinicians have looked into alternative treatments for hot flashes, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-07-28T10:34:32-04:00September 8th, 2008|Medication, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Oral Contraceptives and the Risk of Blood Clots in Postpartum Women

If a woman does not breastfeed following delivery, prolactin levels decrease and fertility returns to normal, and pregnancy is possible. Even if a woman decides to breastfeed, she should still use some form of contraception, as prolactin levels vary depending on individual breastfeeding styles. Women may be fertile and become pregnant even before the resumption of their menstrual cycles.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T13:55:37-04:00July 2nd, 2008|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

Using Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Treat Depression During Pregnancy

We commonly see women in our consultation service who have histories of depression and are planning pregnancy. They frequently have questions about alternative treatments for depression while pregnant. Given that many women are taking omega-3 fatty acids prior to pregnancy, the question arises whether they should discontinue them during pregnancy. An additional question is whether omega-3 fatty acids can be used instead of antidepressants for the treatment of depression during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T13:54:17-04:00June 25th, 2008|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Menopausal Hot Flashes

Many women report vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, during the menopausal transition. While estrogen is clearly one of the most effective treatments for vasomotor symptoms, recent concerns regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have made treaters much more reluctant to recommend HRT, even for short-term management of vasomotor symptoms. A recent study has demonstrated that acupuncture may be an effective non-hormonal treatment for vasomotor symptoms.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T11:54:30-04:00March 31st, 2008|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment|Comments Off