Prenatal Exposure to Stress, Alterations in Fetal Brain Development Associated with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Fetal brain development is altered by elevated maternal distress and has adverse infant social-emotional and cognitive outcomes.
Can Intravenous Ketamine Reduce Risk for Postpartum Depression?
Intravenous ketamine at delivery reduced risk for postpartum depression; however, only in women at high risk for PPD.
New Research Study: A Behavioral Activation App for Depression During Pregnancy
We are now recruiting for a study using a novel app using behavioral activation to treat depression during pregnancy.
Essential Reads: Bright Light Therapy for the Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy, Mixed Findings
In terms of the efficacy of bright light therapy for depression during pregnancy, the jury is still out.
Depression During Pregnancy Affect Infant’s Brain Anatomy, But No Change with Prenatal Exposure to SSRIs
Infants exposed to maternal depression during pregnancy had significantly larger subcortical grey matter volumes and smaller midbrain volumes.
Essential Reads: Measuring the Impact of Antenatal Depression on the Fetal Brain Using Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging studies indicate that exposure to antenatal depression may determine risk for later neuropsychiatric illness in the child.
Essential Reads: Using Neuroimaging to Visualize the Impact of Maternal Depression on the Developing Brain
When a woman comes in for a consultation regarding the use of medications during pregnancy, we spend most of our time reviewing the potential risks of exposure to medications during pregnancy. However, we must also [...]
Is Suicidality on the Rise in Pregnant and Postpartum Women?
Suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. According to a 2017 study from California, drug-related deaths (3.68 per 100,000 person-years) and suicides (1.42 per 100,000 person-years) accounted for nearly [...]
Understanding the Psychological Consequences of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Most women have some nausea or vomiting, or “morning sickness”, during the first trimester of pregnancy. Some women, however, have a more severe and persistent pattern of nausea and vomiting called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). [...]
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Depression during Pregnancy Shows Promising Results
While depression is relatively common in pregnancy and we have data to support the reproductive safety of many different antidepressants, many women are reluctant to use antidepressant medications during pregnancy. Because untreated depression in [...]