trauma - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Pregnancy Loss Increases the Risk of Postpartum Psychiatric Illness

Pregnancy loss may cause great psychological stress for women. How such a loss, whether or not the woman identifies it as a stressor, affects her emotional well-being after the birth of a future child is unknown. In order to better understand the relationship between pregnancy loss and risk for postpartum psychiatric illness, researchers assessed 192 women at their first-year pediatric well-child care visits in an urban pediatric clinic. In this group of low income mothers, 49% of the women reported a previous pregnancy loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, or induced abortion).

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-05T14:50:05-04:00September 23rd, 2013|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|0 Comments

Childhood Abuse: A Risk Factor for Bonding and Parenting Difficulties

Multiple studies have demonstrated that childhood maltreatment is associated with subsequent difficulties. Researchers from the University of Michigan assessed parenting behaviors in women with a history of childhood abuse and neglect (n?=?97) and a healthy control comparison group (n?=?53). Participants were assessed at 6 weeks, 4 months, and 6 months postpartum. At 6 months, a home visit was conducted and mothers and infants participated in a dyadic play interaction later coded for positive parenting behaviors by blinded raters.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T09:52:28-04:00October 19th, 2012|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|1 Comment

Postpartum PTSD is Probably More Common Than You Think

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in approximately 10% of all women at some point in their lifetime. PTSD tends to occur more commonly in women during their childbearing years, yet we have only recently begun to look more closely at the incidence of PTSD associated with childbirth.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T14:40:47-04:00June 12th, 2012|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|0 Comments

Tragedy and Coping

On Saturday, January 8, a gunman opened fire at a local community event in Tucson, Arizona, targeting U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was shot in the head and underwent immediate surgery, and there were a total of at least 18 other victims that were killed or wounded. The dead included bystanders and colleagues of the congresswoman, including a nine year old girl and a federal judge. The tragedy unfolded in the midst of the most ordinary of circumstances, a Saturday morning at a neighborhood grocery store, in the context of a casual event in which a political representative made herself available to constituents. The tragedy quickly stunned and horrified the community of Tucson and the entire country, and received national and international coverage through television, the internet, and other types of media, including social networking.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-13T12:03:31-04:00January 11th, 2011|Women's Mental Health|1 Comment