Tag Archives: Reads

Essential Reads: Can Group Prenatal Care Support Maternal Mental Health?

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way antenatal care is being delivered in the United States, such as having fewer visits and replacing some in-clinic visits with virtual visits over telemedicine platforms. There has been some discussion of continuing some of these changes in care for low-risk pregnancies even after the pandemic ends – the… Read More »

Essential Reads: Evidence-Based Interventions for Depressed Mothers and Their Young Children

In a given year, about 10% of mothers in the United States experience a major depressive episode (MDE).  Roughly translated, this means about 1 in 10 children is exposed to maternal depression each year (Ertel et al, 2011).  While much attention has focused on postpartum depression, which affects about 10% to 15% of women, mothers… Read More »

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 of mania.  We have long been aware of its teratogenic effects, with some studies documenting an increased risk of cardiovascular… Read More »

Essential Reads: How to Screen for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Postpartum Women?

When obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) occurs during the postpartum period, women may experience typical OCD symptoms related to contamination and cleaning, catastrophic thoughts and checking, or symmetry and ordering.  However, many women with postpartum OCD, as well as those with other postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, have intrusive, ego-dystonic thoughts of harming the infant.  These intrusive… Read More »