While postpartum depression is common among new mothers, our ability to reliably detect this illness remains poor.  Recent studies have indicated that most obstetricians report that they screen for postpartum psychiatric problems at routine follow-up visits but typically do not use standardized instruments to assess for postpartum depression.  Unfortunately, studies which have measured the success [...]

Lamotrigine (Lamictal) has been effectively used for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Many women suffering from bipolar disorder are of childbearing age; therefore an adequate contraception is a major concern that needs to be addressed in this population.
Special consideration should be taken when patients taking lamotrigine plan to use oral contraceptives (OCs).  Studies carried [...]

This Friday, October 10, is Screening for Mental Health’s National Depression Screening Day, an effort to raise awareness for depression and its treatment.
The risk for depression is nearly twice as high in women as in men, and reproductive-aged women are at highest risk for developing depression.  Numerous research studies suggest that untreated depression can have [...]

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after childbirth is an understudied condition. Traditionally, much of the data have been based on case reports, indicating that PTSD can occur following a range of childbirth and child loss situations, including long or complicated labor, severe pain with labor or delivery, cesarean section, and unanticipated pregnancy outcome, such as child [...]

Our blog has been nominated for Best Health Blog in the 2008 Blogger’s Choice Awards.  Please vote and show your support -  our hope is that being voted one of the top blogs in the health field will introduce more people to the important issues in perinatal and reproductive psychiatry.  We are currently one of [...]