The American Academy of Pediatrics released an updated policy statement urging physicians to increase screening of women for perinatal depression. The statement titled “Incorporating Recognition and Management of Perinatal Depression into Pediatric Practice” was updated from an original statement in 2010. Perinatal depression can affect women during pregnancy and up to one year after delivery. […]
Category Archives: Womens Health
Interactions: BCP’s and Psychotropic Meds 9/7/2017
Contraceptives are commonly used in women of childbearing age, many of who are also taking psychotropic medications for mental health concerns. It is important to be aware of the interactions between contraceptives and certain psychotropic medications as well as the psychiatric side effects of contraceptives themselves. Contraceptives have synthetic estrogen, progesterone or a combination of […]
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) 9/21/2017
Approximately 75% of women experience premenstrual changes – increased irritability, tension, depressed mood, breast tenderness and bloating – commonly referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). About 5-10% of women experience moderate to severe premenstrual mood symptoms known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD includes depressed mood, irritability, mood lability, anxiety, anger, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia […]
Improving Detection of Postpartum Depression 12/14/2017
Postpartum depression is fairly common, with a prevalence of 10-15%. PPD can occur anytime in the first year after delivery. The postpartum year is one of the highest risk periods for first-onset depression for women with approximately 50% of women who will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime experiencing their first episode of depression […]
Is it Menopause or Depression? 2/15/2018
Is it Menopause or Depression? Females in their 40s and 50s often present to their primary care providers with new-onset depressive symptoms. In developing a treatment plan, it is important to assess if the symptoms are part of menopause or perimenopause or if they represent a new-onset depressive disorder. A complicating factor is that menopause […]
Treatment for Depression Related to Pregnancy
Last week’s e-Weekly discussed the different depressive syndromes as related to pregnancy. This e-Weekly will go into detail about treatment for depression for a patient who is in the antepartum or postpartum period. The first step is to determine the level of impairment of the symptoms. Baby blues resolves on its own with support and […]
Depression related to pregnancy
Depression related to pregnancy is a common and potentially serious concern for both mom and the baby. It is therefore important to understand the various conditions and when it is important to have a clinical intervention. Postpartum Blues: Symptoms of mood lability, irritable mood, interpersonal hypersensitivity and tearfulness are common in the postpartum period and […]
Important Drug Interactions Between Psychotropic Medications and Contraceptives
Contraceptives are commonly used in women of childbearing age, many of who are also taking psychotropic medications for mental health concerns. It is important to be aware of the interactions between contraceptives and certain psychotropic medications as well as the psychiatric side effects of contraceptives themselves. Contraceptives have synthetic estrogen, progesterone or a combination of […]
Prescribing Psychotropic Medications for Women
Women are almost twice as likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication as men. Because women are the primary consumers of psychotropic medications, it is important to pay attention to gender differences in the pharmacology of these medications. Other e-weekly topics have addressed issues related to pregnancy, menopause, and birth control with mental health, so this […]
Is it Menopause or Depression?
Females in their 40s and 50s often present to their primary care providers with new-onset depressive symptoms. It can be difficult to assess if the symptoms are part of menopause/perimenopause or if they represent a new onset depressive disorder. One complicating factor is that menopause can independently increase the risk of onset of a depressive […]