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 [...]
Can Bright Light Therapy Be Used for the Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy?
Every Wednesday, we have the pleasure of holding virtual rounds with other clinicians to discuss important topics in reproductive psychiatry. So many great questions! Last week, one of our participants asked about using light therapy [...]
CBT-Based Group Intervention Improves Perinatal Depression and Maternal Sensitivity
Previous research has shown that higher levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be associated with lower levels of maternal-fetal attachment (MFA). Other studies have indicated that poor MFA is a significant predictor of worse [...]
Suicide Attempts More Common During Postpartum Period, and More Lethal
A recent study from Japan uses a retrospective review of medical records to estimate the prevalence of suicide attempts among pregnant and postpartum women.
Racial Disparities in Perinatal Depression Screening Addressed in Recent Study
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) including prenatal depression (PND) and postpartum depression (PPD) can have a profound adverse impact on the well-being of mothers, newborns, and entire families. It is estimated that 20%-25% [...]