Every week we review the most recent publications in women’s mental health, covering topics related to premenstrual symptoms, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, use of medications in pregnant and breastfeeding women, perinatal substance use, and menopausal mental health.

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Happy Reading!

Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD

PMS AND PMDD
No articles this week

INFERTILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH
No articles this week

PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS DURING PREGNANCY
Subjective sleep disruption, coping, and anxiety and related symptoms in the perinatal period: Findings from a longitudinal study.
Shorter sleep duration predicted increases in subsequent perinatal anxiety and obsessive beliefs, whereas perinatal anxiety and related symptoms did not predict subsequent sleep disruption. Those who reported higher insomnia symptoms and shorter sleep duration reported higher perinatal anxiety (B = 1.19, p < .001; B = -3.18, p < .001), obsessive beliefs (B = 3.42, p < .001; B = -11.57, p < .001), and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (B = .69, p < .001; B = -1.94, p < .001) on average. The relation between insomnia symptoms and perinatal anxiety was moderated by coping.

Subjective sleep disruption, coping, and anxiety and related symptoms in the perinatal period: Findings from a longitudinal study.
Shorter sleep duration predicted increases in subsequent perinatal anxiety and obsessive beliefs, whereas perinatal anxiety and related symptoms did not predict subsequent sleep disruption. Those who reported higher insomnia symptoms and shorter sleep duration reported higher perinatal anxiety, obsessive beliefs, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms on average; the relation between insomnia symptoms and perinatal anxiety was moderated by coping.

The effect of yoga on depression, anxiety, and stress during pregnancy and postpartum: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Meta-analysis showed that yoga may be associated with reductions in scores of prenatal depressions (SMD = -0.98), anxiety (SMD = -1.15), and stress symptoms (SMD = -0.88), particularly in women without prior depressive or anxiety symptoms (P < 0.00001). No statistically significant effects were found among women with existing symptoms.

MEDICATIONS AND PREGNANCY
Association of prenatal antidepressant use with internalizing behaviors from kindergarten to adolescence.
The associations of prenatal SRI exposure with increased internalizing behaviors in exposed children at kindergarten and into adolescence are likely due to shared genetics or environmental factors. Findings also suggested kindergarten as a time for targeted interventions to address developmental vulnerabilities and prevent later development of anxiety and/or depression.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS
Video-Based Peer Support and Exclusive Breastfeeding and Maternal Self-Efficacy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
The findings of this study suggest that integrating video call peer support into existing programs may improve maternal and infant outcomes by increasing breastfeeding rates and duration, as well as enhancing maternal confidence.

Rethinking Postpartum Depression: Biology, Biomarkers, and New Treatments with Jennifer L. Payne, MD.
In this podcast interview with JCP, Jennifer Payne describes an epigenetic biomarker test using a blood draw in the third trimester that identifies postpartum depression risk, allowing preventive planning before symptoms emerge.

The relationship between preterm birth and postpartum anxiety: A first-in-field systematic review.
In a review of 23 studies, the results indicate an inverse association between gestational age at delivery (preterm birth) and postpartum anxiety.

Physical activity modalities and dosing for postpartum depression, anxiety and quality of life: a network meta-analysis and dose response of randomized trials.
Physical activity within moderate weekly volumes was associated with the greatest improvements in postpartum mental health.

A scoping review of eating disorder symptoms and mental health during the postpartum period: predictors, course, and consequences for mothers and infants.
Women with ED symptoms are at higher risk for developing mental health conditions during postpartum and are more likely to experience a relapse. These symptoms likely affect the mother-infant feeding relationship. This review also highlighted the lack of research focused on tailored screening and treatment strategies for this population.

Postpartum maternal sleep disruption is associated with perception of infant temperament: findings from a 6-month longitudinal study.
Lower sleep efficiency and greater sleep disturbance were significantly associated with higher infant negative affect. Both effects were significantly moderated by depression symptoms, whereas only the effect of sleep efficiency was moderated by anxiety symptoms.

Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With Compulsive Digital Picture Taking and Video Recording.
A commonly reported manifestation of OCD is hoarding behavior, an impairing struggle to purge items regardless of their value. In the modern age of mass digital consumption, digital hoarding behavior has been newly defined, though reasoning behind hoarding is similar: developing an attachment, feeling like the items are an extension of one’s identity, or keeping items “just in case” they become useful later. In this case study, the authors describe the case of a woman with postpartum OCD who exhibited a unique compulsion of taking excessive photos and videos, potentially exhibiting digital hoarding behavior.

MEDICATIONS AND BREASTFEEDING
No articles this week

PERINATAL SUBSTANCE USE
Prenatal Exposure to Buprenorphine Does Not Impair Neurodevelopment.
Prenatal exposure to buprenorphine vs methadone was not associated with an increased risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes among children.

Prenatal exposure to buprenorphine or methadone and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes: population based cohort study.
Friedrich S, Huybrechts KF, Straub L, Hernandez-Diaz S, Zhu Y, Hahn G, Mogun H, Jones HE, Connery HS, Davis JM, Gray KJ, Lester B, Terplan M, Bateman BT. BMJ. 2026 Apr 15;393:e087321.

Antenatal Opioid Exposure and Cerebral Cortical Maturation in Newborns.
Wu Y, Merhar SL, Bann CM, Newman JE, Kapse K, De Asis-Cruz J, Davis JM, Ambalavanan N, De Mauro SB, Lorch SA, Wilson-Costello D, Poindexter BB, Mack N, Peralta-Carcelen M, Limperopoulos C. JAMA Netw Open. 2026 May 1;9(5):e2614115.

MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD OUTCOMES
Timing of Exposure to Parental Depression From Pregnancy to Young Adulthood and Mental Health in Adult Offspring.
In this cohort study, analyses found distinct temporal associations between maternal and paternal depression and offspring psychiatric symptoms, and pregnancy was found to be a sensitive period in the association between maternal depression and offspring psychotic experiences. The findings suggest a substantial role of timing for specifying the association between parental depression and psychiatric outcomes in young adults and emphasize the need to support parental mental health from pregnancy onward.

MENOPAUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH
No articles this week

OTHER TOPICS IN WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH
The Effect of Hormonal Contraceptives on Mental Health.
Review, highlighting impact of hormonal contraceptives on mood in adolescents.

Mind the gap: a systematic review of depression, barriers, and facilitators to mental health care after miscarriage.
Risk factors for mental health symptoms after miscarriage included childlessness, prior psychiatric history, repeated loss, and low social support. Barriers to treatment included insensitive communication, lack of follow-up, and financial constraints. Facilitators included empathetic interactions, clear information, and supportive networks.

Stress, Androgens Shape Pubescent Development Timing in Girls.
High levels of stress, body mass index (BMI), and certain hormones are linked to earlier puberty in girls, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.