Women's Health Matters: Updates in Maternal Mental Health-Handout

Handout

Pdf Summary

The presentation by Dr. Emmie Strassberg focuses on maternal mental health, specifically addressing perinatal and postpartum mental health disorders. It highlights the prevalence of these conditions, with perinatal depression affecting about one in seven women and other mental health conditions impacting more than one in five individuals. Untreated mental health during pregnancy is a significant concern due to its adverse outcomes on both maternal and fetal health.<br /><br />Key topics include the identification of mental health disorders using standardized screening tools, as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which stress the importance of timely mental health screening and follow-up. ACOG also advocates for psychotherapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as first-line treatments for mild-to-moderate perinatal depression and anxiety.<br /><br />The management of bipolar disorder in pregnancy is crucial as non-treated cases may lead to significant psychiatric crises postpartum. The session underscores the necessity for lifelong care and prompt psychiatric consultations.<br /><br />The presentation also discusses medication management, including guidelines for psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and postpartum, emphasizing SSRIs for depression and anxiety and noting the risks of untreated mental health as exposure to adverse outcomes. Special recommendations include avoiding drugs like valproate during pregnancy due to their teratogenic effects.<br /><br />Emerging treatments like brexanolone and zuranolone, newly FDA-approved medications for postpartum depression, were introduced, highlighting their administration guidelines and potential side effects.<br /><br />ACOG’s recommendations underscore the importance of not discontinuing medications due to pregnancy or lactation alone, but instead, ensuring equitable access to mental health care. Multidisciplinary care teams and resources like Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs are vital components for comprehensive patient support.<br /><br />Overall, the document stresses improving treatment outcomes through early detection, appropriate clinical intervention, maintaining mental health coverage parity with physical health, and creating supportive environments for expecting and new mothers battling mental health issues.

Keywords

maternal mental health

perinatal depression

postpartum mental health

standardized screening tools

psychotherapy

SSRIs

bipolar disorder

psychopharmacotherapy

brexanolone

ACOG recommendations