Essential Reads: Lithium and Pregnancy
While the use of lithium has been in decline over the last 20 years, lithium continues to be a useful and highly effective mood stabilizer for women with bipolar disorder, especially those with a history [...]
Essential Reads: Is there a Role for Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Women at Risk for Perinatal Depression?
The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential components of the human diet and have a broad range of health benefits. Furthermore, they may also be beneficial [...]
Essential Reads: SSRI Antidepressants Do Not Increase Risk of Miscarriage
Many women ask whether taking antidepressants may increase the risk for miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. Some, but not all, studies have demonstrated an increased risk of miscarriage among women who use antidepressants. However, it has [...]
New Research from the CWMH: The Course of ADHD During Pregnancy
We continue to see an increasing number of women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are either pregnant or planning to conceive. While we have considerable data to indicate that women with mood and anxiety [...]
What About Pregnant Women and the COVID-19 Vaccine?
It hasn’t even been a week since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the first emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. Yesterday, Americans started receiving [...]
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). [...]
How Do Race and Ethnicity Impact Access and Utilization of Perinatal Mental Health Services?
Growing attention is being given to the public health dimensions of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Previously, we have reviewed studies looking at the prevalence of screening for PMADs and disparities therein and [...]
Study Supporting the Reproductive Safety of Gabapentin During Pregnancy
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings — for the treatment of epilepsy, pain management, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. However, there is relatively little information regarding [...]
New (But Still Not Enough) Data on Modafinil and Pregnancy
Modafinil (brand name Provigil) is a wake-promoting agent which is used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, or obstructive sleep apnea. It is also used in other settings, often in [...]