This Month in Psychopharmacology

Browsing articles in "Pregnancy/Postpartum"

Role of Neuroactive Steroids and Brain Health
August 9, 2023

The classic neuropathological hypothesis and treatment basis (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, etc) of major depressive disorder has historically centered around monoaminergic dysfunction (e.g., serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine). More recently, attention is being given to dysfunction in the gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABA) system, with novel treatment developments as a result…

FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression
August 4, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the zuranolone 50 mg for adults with postpartum depression. Zuranolone is the first and only oral, once-daily, 14-day treatment that can provide rapid improvements in depressive symptoms for women with postpartum depression (PPD)…

2023 NEI Synapse: Sleep Issues During Pregnancy and Postpartum
April 1, 2023

At the 2023 NEI Synapse, Dr. Jade Wu presented a lecture on sleep disturbances during and after pregnancy. Dr. Wu focused on potential causes of sleep disruptions during pregnancy, which include physical discomfort, decreased physical activity, and frequent urination..

Folic Acid Tied to a Reduction in Suicide Attempts
October 18, 2022

Prescription folic acid was previously linked with decreased risk of suicide attempt using a novel statistical drug safety signal-generation algorithm (iDEAS study). Due to the good safety profile and low cost of folate, a recent study aimed to confirm this association in a national pharmacoepidemiologic study of patients treated with folic acid...

Antidepressants in Pregnancy Aren't Linked to Increased Neurological Issues in Children
October 16, 2022

In a recent cohort study, the relationship between in utero exposure to antidepressants and increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders was examined...

Treating ADHD During Breastfeeding
August 30, 2022

There is a lack of data regarding risks of stimulant and non-stimulant medication with lactation (only case reports; low quality evidence), and long-term consequences have not been studied. While some women may be able to discontinue ADHD medications during pregnancy and/or lactation without adverse effects, others may experience significant functional impairment which may lead to...

Highlights From the 2022 NEI Synapse: Depression Throughout the Female Lifespan
April 23, 2022

At the 2022 NEI Synapse, Dr. Mary Kimmel discussed best practices for diagnosing and treating depression in women throughout their lives in a CME/CE session titled, “Ups and Downs: Diagnosing and Treating Depression Throughout the Female Lifespan.”

Risk of Depression Across Female Lifecycle
March 7, 2022

Estrogen levels shift rather dramatically across the female life cycle in relation to various types of reproductive events. Such shifts are also linked to the onset or recurrence of major depressive episodes. As estrogen levels rise during puberty, the incidence of depression skyrockets in women, falling again after menopause. However, during their childbearing years when estrogen is high and cycling, the incidence of depression in women is 2-3 times higher than in men...

Paternal Prevalence of Comorbid Depression and Anxiety During First Two Years Postpartum
January 4, 2022

A recent longitudinal cohort study examined the prevalence of paternal comorbid depression and anxiety during the first and second year postpartum and investigated the predictors for comorbidity during the first and second-year following birth...

Postpartum Anhedonia: Emergent Patterns in Bipolar and Unipolar Depression
December 7, 2021

Anhedonia, the lack of interest in previously pleasurable activities, is sometimes a symptom of depression and has been associate with worse outcomes. In this study, Gollan and colleagues looked at anhedonia in postpartum women with either unipolar postpartum depression...

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