depression - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

What Would You Do? A Pregnant Women on Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

Ms. A is a 27-year-old woman who is seven weeks pregnant and is currently taking duloxetine (Cymbalta). She has a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) and has had a good response to duloxetine at 60 mg per day. She has had four previous episodes of major depressive disorder (most untreated) and has been in remission for one year. Past episodes have lasted up to six months and caused difficulty with functioning at work and in relationships, although she was not diagnosed and treated until one year ago.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:50:32-04:00June 29th, 2009|Antidepressants, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Depression in Women

An ideal treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) in women would be efficacious, safe, and offer broad health benefits. MDD is prevalent in women of childbearing years, and recent research underscores the risk of recurrence [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-12-11T12:39:30-04:00June 19th, 2009|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, General, Treatment|Comments Off

Maternal Depression During Pregnancy May Lead to Infant Sleep Problems

About 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy, and many reports have suggested that depression during pregnancy may have negative effects on the fetus. A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan indicates a link between depression during pregnancy and infant sleep problems.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:34:16-04:00May 12th, 2009|Child Outcomes, Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Pregnancy May Lower Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Blood Levels

Women with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for recurrence of illness during pregnancy. Therefore, many women with bipolar disorder elect to continue treatment with medications during pregnancy after weighing the risks and benefits of various treatment options with their physicians. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an anticonvulsant used to treat bipolar disorder. While the safety data on this relatively new anticonvulsant in pregnancy is limited, pregnancy registry data suggests that lamotrigine may pose less of a risk to the developing fetus than with older anticonvulsants, such as valproate (Depakote). With lamotrigine emerging as an effective and relatively safe treatment for pregnant women with bipolar disorder, more attention is now being paid to the effects of pregnancy on lamotrigine levels.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:07:13-04:00May 5th, 2009|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Bipolar Disorder, Mood Stabilizers, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

A Mouse Model of Postpartum Depression

Maguire and Mody's report, GABAA R Plasticity during Pregnancy: Relevance to Postpartum Depression, in the July 2008, Neuron, provides evidence that an abnormal Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor subunit in pregnant mice may be a useful model for postpartum depression. The report describes how GABAA receptors, specifically, the delta-subunit-containing GABA receptor, are a preferred target for neurosteroids. They designed a study to identify functional changes in these receptors during pregnancy and postpartum and then looked at possible behavioral correlates in the mice.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:07:14-04:00March 10th, 2009|Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

Mood and well-being after removal of both ovaries

The risk of depression after removal of both ovaries (also called bilateral oöphorectomy or surgical menopause) is a major factor for women to consider when they confront medical problems that require removal of the uterus (called a hysterectomy). Many women are advised to consider having their ovaries removed when they are having the uterus removed. Sometimes removal of the ovaries is required to fully treat the condition leading to surgery, but other times it is suggested as a precaution to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Removal of both ovaries in a premenopausal woman results in an abrupt withdrawal of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Therefore removing both ovaries (rather than just one or neither ovary) may have significant effects on mood and well-being in women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:02:54-04:00February 24th, 2009|Depressive Disorders, Menopausal Symptoms, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

SSRIs in Pregnancy and Neonatal Distress Syndrome

Most obstetricians are now familiar with the potential for what has become known as neonatal distress syndrome (or "adaptation" syndrome) following third trimester exposure to SSRIs. Some patients still worry about the possibility of their baby developing neonatal distress syndrome, especially if anything unusual happened during the post-delivery experience of an earlier pregnancy. Women may be concerned about whether and to what degree the medication they were on played a role in their infant's distress and whether to continue that medication during a subsequent pregnancy. The following case may help illustrate the decision-making dilemmas.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:01:29-04:00February 17th, 2009|Antidepressants, Neonatal Symptoms, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Maternal depression, in-home violence, and use of physical punishment

Parental use of physical punishment early in childhood may be associated with subsequent maladaptive behaviors such as child aggression and impaired social information processing. There are links between certain childhood behaviors and risk for parental use of physical punishment, although cause and effect are difficult to establish with these associations. Higher rates of physical punishment correlate with maternal depression and domestic violence.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:27:53-04:00January 26th, 2009|Depressive Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Used to Treat Depression in Pregnancy

Mood disorders and symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period are not uncommon and affect women across the world. In spite of relatively high rates of depression among childbearing women, there are often inadequate resources for treatment, particularly in poorer countries. In countries lacking resources, health care is often managed by community health workers or individuals with basic health care training who provide care to difficult-to-reach populations. There are often few mental health professionals, leaving many women without adequate treatment. In an attempt to provide treatment to a greater number of women, some investigators are attempting to train community health workers to provide some psychotherapy as part of their standard duties.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-14T12:20:53-04:00January 13th, 2009|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Sildenafil (Viagra) Treatment of Women with Antidepressant-Associated Sexual Dysfunction

While some side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and headaches associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants tend to decrease or resolve over time, other side effects such as sexual dysfunction rarely remit spontaneously. Treatment of sexual side effects in women is especially important when about 30-70% of patients taking antidepressants may experience sexual side effects, combined with the fact that women are prescribed antidepressants at rates of 2 to 1 when compared to men.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:23:22-04:00January 6th, 2009|Antidepressants, General, Medication, Sexual Health, Treatment|Comments Off