It’s OK to Throw Away Some of Those Baby Advice Books
When I meet with mothers of new babies, I often spend a fair amount of time delving into their beliefs about parenting and what they perceive as the “right” way to care for their new [...]
How Are We Doing: What Happens to Women Who Screen Positive for Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) screening has been increasingly implemented not only in obstetric, but also in primary care and pediatric settings, over the past decade. While there is a growing appreciation for the prevalence of [...]
What is the Risk of Postpartum Depression in Women with No Psychiatric History?
We know that about 15% of women suffer from postpartum depression (PPD). But what is less clear is how to reliably identify women with PPD and to then ensure that they get the support and [...]
Announcing the MGH Perinatal Depression Scale at the App Store
We are very pleased to announce the release of the MGH Perinatal Depression Scale available free of charge on the App Store (https://appsto.re/us/-3X4jb.i). The MGHPDS smartphone app includes digital versions of perinatal depression screening tools [...]
Does Universal Screening for Depression in Perinatal Populations Lead to Better Outcomes?
Over the last decade, there has been increased interest around the country in establishing consistent screening for perinatal depression across a range of clinical settings. Approximately 40 states have instituted guidelines and recommendations regarding screening [...]
In Brief: Problem-Solving Education Intervention Reduces Risk of Postpartum Depression
While many women are at risk for postpartum depression, we continue to struggle in providing adequate support and care to women in this setting, especially socioeconomically disadvantaged women. In a randomized clinical trial including [...]
Pilot Study of Telephone-Delivered Interpersonal Therapy for Women with Postpartum Depression
It is clear that screening for perinatal depression substantially improves detection; however, screening alone does not appear to improve rates of treatment or outcomes. What we find is that many, if not most, women with [...]
Brexanolone: Related to Allopregnanolone, Effective for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression
In 2015, we first reported on SAGE-547 (SAGE Therapeutics), a new medication for the treatment of severe postpartum depression. SAGE-547, now called brexanolone, is an allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors. This drug was initially under [...]
Perinatal Depression Screening Is Just The Start
The following post was first published in OB/GYN News. Please see our OB/GYN News archives here. Publish date: March 3, 2017 Over the last decade, appreciation of the prevalence of perinatal depression – depression during pregnancy and/or [...]
Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions for Postpartum Depression in Primary Care
Postpartum depression (PPD) has been identified as the “most under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated obstetrical complication in America”, affecting approximately 10-15% of new mothers. In addition to affecting maternal mental health during a critical time [...]