depression - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Some Risk But No Impact on Mortality

While there are concerns regarding the risks associated with prolonged use of hormone replacement, an increasing number of studies suggest that the risk may be relatively low in certain settings. A study presented this week at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting which analyzed data from 43 randomized clinical trials suggests that menopausal hormone-replacement therapy does not appear to affect mortality either positively or negatively.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-05T10:19:09-04:00March 12th, 2015|Hormone Therapy, Menopausal Symptoms, Treatment, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Pregnancy Loss May Affect Mood in Subsequent Pregnancies

Many women experience the loss of a pregnancy at some time in their lives. It is estimated that about 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. In the United States, another 14% end in termination.1 [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-11-04T08:28:32-04:00March 4th, 2015|Depressive Disorders, Pregnancy Loss, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Infertility Treatment May Increase the Risk of Postpartum Depression

While many women complain of psychological distress during infertility treatment, it has been somewhat unclear if the anxiety and depression women may experience is related to having to undergo infertility treatment or to the hormonal agents [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-06-16T14:45:01-04:00February 18th, 2015|Infertility and Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

Happy New Year: Let’s Start By Taking a Look Back to 2014

2014 was a huge year in the field of Reproductive Psychiatry. Never before have we seen so many articles published in this specialty. Much attention has focused on the reproductive safety of psychotropic medication; however, we have seen an increased interest in the mental health of women and a greater appreciation of how psychiatric illness in the mother may affect the entire family, including her unborn child and family.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-01-08T11:43:36-04:00January 8th, 2015|Weekly Roundup|Comments Off

Women with Epilepsy at Higher Risk for Perinatal Depression

A recent study examined the prevalence and risk factors for perinatal depression and anxiety in a group of Norwegian women with epilepsy (n = 706) compared to pregnancies in all women without epilepsy (n = 106,511).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-07-21T11:07:25-04:00December 23rd, 2014|Depressive Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

The Impact of Infertility Treatment on Mood: Some Women are More Vulnerable

While many women complain of psychological distress during infertility treatment, it has been somewhat unclear if the anxiety and depression women may experience is related to having to undergo infertility treatment or to the hormonal agents that are used as part of the treatment, or a combination of the two. While we know that changing levels of gonadal hormones, like estrogen, may affect mood and anxiety levels, we have very little information on the psychological effects of the hormone-modulating drugs used in assisted reproductive technology (ART).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-05-15T18:17:52-04:00December 16th, 2014|Depressive Disorders, Infertility and Mental Health|Comments Off

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|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Older Moms at Higher Risk for Depression

A recent study from Canada has observed higher rates of depression in mothers who have children after the age of 40. The prevalence of depression after delivery was about threefold higher in women aged 40 to 44 years as compared to women aged 30 to 35 years. This relationship was even stronger after controlling for potential confounders, including education level, marital status, and chronic illness (adjusted OR 3.72; 95% CI 2.15 to 6.41).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-12-11T12:47:53-04:00October 23rd, 2014|Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

EPDS Modified to Screen for Lifetime Perinatal Depression

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was modified by adding lifetime PND screening questions, assessing worst episode, and symptom timing of onset, in order to assess the lifetime prevalence of perinatal depression. Subjects from the [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-15T16:21:50-04:00September 18th, 2014|Depressive Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

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|Antidepressants, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off