pregnancy - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Pilot Study: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Decrease Levels of Stress during Pregnancy

We have long been concerned about the impact of stressful life events on pregnancy outcomes. There is data to indicate that stress experienced during pregnancy may increase the risk of various adverse outcomes, including increased risk of preterm birth and lower birth weight. Other studies suggest that prenatal exposure to maternal stress may also increase the risk of later psychopathology in the child, increasing the exposed child’s risk of being diagnosed with ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-04-03T13:20:16-04:00January 15th, 2015|Alternative & Complementary, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|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

FDA Finalizes Guidelines for Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Information

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a report outlining the new standards for how to present information regarding the safety of medications used during pregnancy and breastfeeding: “The new content and formatting requirements will provide a more consistent way to include relevant information about the risks and benefits of prescription drugs and biological products used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.” These changes will be put into effect by June 2015.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-05-01T11:59:40-04:00December 11th, 2014|Pregnancy & Medications|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

Anti-Epileptic Drugs and Risk of Miscarriage

Do anti-epileptic drugs increase the risk for miscarriage and/or stillbirth? Many reports have demonstrated an association between the use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy and increased risk of congenital malformations and pregnancy complications, including pre-eclampsia, [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:08:07-04:00October 22nd, 2014|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|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

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) Exposure and Risk of Cardiac Malformations

Bupropion is commonly used to treat depression, and is also prescribed to support smoking cessation. Early data on bupropion-exposure during pregnancy raised concern for a possible increase in risk of malformations of the heart and large blood vessels in bupropion-exposed infants. Subsequent data from bupropion pregnancy registries has been reassuring, however, and do not demonstrate an overall increase in risk of cardiac defects following first trimester bupropion exposure. Although the overall risk of cardiac defects was not increased, the distribution of specific defects in these registries was unexpected in some ways. For example, the GlaxoSmithKline Bupropion Pregnancy Registry included two cases of coarctation of the aorta out of the 675 bupropion-exposed infants, compared to the rate of 6 cases per 10,000 births in the general population.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-09-11T09:57:22-04:00September 11th, 2014|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

New Data on Anxiety Medications and Pregnancy

Benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics are commonly used during pregnancy. However, there data regarding the reproductive safety of these agents has been somewhat mixed. Although initial reports suggested that there may be an increased risk of cleft lip and palate, more recent reports have shown no association between exposure to benzodiazepines and risk for cleft lip or palate. A new study shows no increase in the overall risk of malformations among children exposed to benzodiazepines.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-08-28T23:00:37-04:00August 20th, 2014|Anti-Anxiety Medications, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

New Research from the CWMH: CBT to Reduce Risk of Relapse in Women Attempting to Discontinue Antidepressants

Pregnancy is a time of risk for women with histories of major depression. In a study where 201 women with histories of recurrent depression were followed prospectively through pregnancy, 43% experienced a relapse of major depression during pregnancy. Relapse rates were highest in the group of women who elected to discontinue antidepressant treatment proximate to conception (68% as compared to 26% in the group of women who maintained antidepressant treatment).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2016-03-28T13:02:51-04:00July 1st, 2014|Depressive Disorders, Prevention, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Psychotherapy, Research at CWMH|Comments Off

SSRIs and Chiari Malformations

A recent study from researchers at the University of North Carolina reports that the children of depressed mothers treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy were more likely to develop Chiari type 1 malformations than were the children of mothers with no history of depression.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2014-06-17T10:16:50-04:00June 16th, 2014|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off