women's mental health - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Perinatal Depression: Maybe or Maybe Not

The omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), have a broad range of health benefits and may be beneficial for the treatment of mood disorders. Because during pregnancy omega-3 fatty acids are diverted to the developing fetus, some women may develop a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that pregnant women with lower levels of DHA may be more vulnerable to depressive symptoms. Several small studies have attempted to use omega-3 fatty acids to treat perinatal depression but have yielded inconsistent findings.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-07T14:43:16-04:00May 6th, 2013|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Being a Mother Scale: A New Instrument for Assessing the Experience of Motherhood

In our weekly clinical rounds, we recently discussed how motherhood is such a unique and personal experience for each woman. Often it is assumed that this transition into a new role is easy when for many it is not. How we assess a woman's experiences during the postpartum period is often limited to just her mood. I recently came across a new self-report instrument, The Being a Mother Scale (BaM-13) developed by Stephen Matthey which attempts to assess the “wider domain of the woman’s experience of motherhood” rather than just the presence or absence of a postpartum mood disorder.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T13:42:55-04:00January 15th, 2013|Diagnosis & Screening, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Depression: Which Comes First?

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). A new study demonstrates, not so surprisingly, that depression is more common in women suffering from HG.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T13:44:18-04:00January 15th, 2013|Depressive Disorders, Prevalence & Risk Factors, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

No Increase in Risk of Infant Mortality in Women Taking SSRIs During Pregnancy

While there has been a great deal of attention paid to the risks of exposure to antidepressants, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), during pregnancy, there has been comparatively little information on the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality in this population. In a recent population-based cohort study utilizing data from all Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), researchers assessed the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality associated with the use of SSRIs during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T13:48:29-04:00January 9th, 2013|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Neonatal Symptoms, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off

Dr. Lee Cohen in Ob-Gyn News: Using SSRIs in Pregnancy

Over the last decade, attention in the medical literature has gathered logarithmically to focus on potentially efficacious treatments for perinatal depression. Studies of relevant databases, editorials, and various reviews have addressed the reproductive safety concerns of antidepressant treatments, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on one hand, and the impact of untreated maternal psychiatric illness on fetal and maternal well-being on the other.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2024-03-31T10:40:13-04:00December 13th, 2012|Antidepressants, ObGyn News, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Mindfulness Yoga for the Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy: A Pilot Study

Over the past decade, the clinical literature has published many studies documenting the psychosocial and health benefits of various mind-body interventions. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to reduce stress, to improve coping skills, and to promote feelings of well-being. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a new psychotherapeutic treatment which has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and to reduce the risk of depressive relapse.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T11:59:23-04:00September 11th, 2012|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Treatment|Comments Off

Depression During Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Preterm Birth

Some, but not all, studies have indicated that depression during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth. A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology is one of the largest to address this question.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:02:07-04:00September 11th, 2012|Depressive Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

New Research from the CWMH: Escitalopram and Sleep in Midlife Women with Vasomotor Symptoms

Selective serotonin and serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs) have been shown to be effective for the treatment of hot flashes. However, these agents may carry certain side effects, including sexual side effects and sleep disturbance. These two side effects may be particularly concerning to peri- and postmenopausal women who, in addition to having vasomotor symptoms, are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction and sleep disruption than premenopausal women.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-06-08T09:03:31-04:00August 20th, 2012|Medication, Menopausal Symptoms, Research at CWMH, Sleep Disorders, Treatment|Comments Off

Weight Loss and a Low-Fat Diet Help to Reduce Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women

Various studies have shown that women with a higher body mass index (BMI) or a higher percent of body fat have more frequent or more severe menopausal symptoms. In a recent study, researchers evaluated the impact of a low-fat diet on vasomotor symptoms in a group of 17,473 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:19:50-04:00August 8th, 2012|Alternative & Complementary, Menopausal Symptoms, Prevention, Vasomotor Symptoms|Comments Off

Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to Screen for Antenatal Depression: Once is Not Enough

Over the past few years, there has been a push to screen women for depression both during pregnancy and the postpartum period. While there have been various initiatives mandating screening, there remain questions regarding the optimal timing of screening and the best screening tools to use.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-12T12:23:32-04:00July 30th, 2012|Diagnosis & Screening, Postpartum Depression, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

women’s mental health