PMS AND PMDD

INFERTILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH

PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS DURING PREGNANCY

Perinatal suicide mortality is more likely among individuals who experience intimate partner problems (IPPs), depressed mood, substance abuse, physical health issues, and recent bereavement compared with matched non-perinatal decedents. These study results, published in JAMA Network Open, underscore the importance of targeted policies addressing these factors in order to reduce perinatal suicide risk.

While the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most widely used screening tool for both fathers and mothers, it inadequately captures atypical depressive symptoms in men. Cutoff scores lack consensus, and instrument sensitivity varies significantly due to cultural and sociodemographic factors. A number of other screening tools have been identified, most of which are more general and not specifically designed for perinatal mental health.

MEDICATIONS AND PREGNANCY

The findings of this study suggest that the concomitant use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines during the first trimester is not associated with a substantial increase in risk for most malformation subtypes.

Commentary on above article.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS

Lack of available services was cited as the greatest barrier to care for PP. Among those who sought treatment, obstetric providers (34.5%) and emergency medical professionals (29.4%) were the most common initial points of contact. 82.2% of the respondents went to an emergency room or crisis center during their episode(s).

This study tested the effect of a trauma-informed support programme based on psychological first aid (PFA) to reduce the mothers’ symptoms of stress, fear of childbirth (FOC), anxiety and depression after a complicated childbirth. The women in the intervention group scored significantly lower on the stress symptom scale, with a halved median score compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding FOC, depression and anxiety.

After adjustments for confounders, vitamin D deficiency was only associated with increased postpartum anxiety symptoms compared to normal vitamin D levels (>80 nM). In women not taking vitamin D supplements (n = 2,303), vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms.

mothers with positive screens for depression (n = 76, 13.5%) or severe distress (n = 102, 18.1%) had more prevalent prepregnancy or prenatal depression/anxiety, and their infants were born at younger gestational ages, with more prevalent bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and discharge after 40 weeks postmenstrual age.

MEDICATIONS AND BREASTFEEDING

PERINATAL SUBSTANCE USE

MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD OUTCOMES

MENOPAUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH

OTHER TOPICS IN WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH

In this cohort study including 84?548 mother-infant dyads in MoBa and 11?670 mother-infant dyads in ALSPAC, maternal consumption of a healthy diet was associated with reduced likelihood of offspring autism diagnosis (MoBa) and reduced likelihood of social communication difficulties (MoBa and ALSPAC).

First-time use of an LNG-IUS was positively associated with incident depression in an LNG-dose-dependent manner across low-, medium-, and high-dose LNG-IUSs. Although the observational design of the study does not permit causal inference, the dose-response relationship contributes to the body of evidence suggesting a relationship between levonorgestrel exposure and risk of depression.

Of 241 participants, women displayed more pronounced psychological distress than men, though both groups improved over time. Four months after termination, 27.4% of women and 9.1% of men showed signs of pathological grief.