UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders

11/16/2021

Come join OB/GYN, Dr. Lauren Schiff and Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Crystal Schiller on Zoom to learn more about the perimenopause transition on December 1st at 12pm. Learn more about common symptoms and different treatment options.

Use the link below to pre-register, hope to see you there!
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tZtXp2GcQVacMAT4xyOBnw

05/14/2021

Help researchers learn more about the epigenetic and inflammatory effects of stress among women between the ages of 50-60. Up to $80 in compensation.

Participation involves:
● 1 virtual enrollment session
● 1 in-person session in Chapel Hill
Visit https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eEbiFBlTUEYR1KR to take our 5-min online screening survey!

To reach a member of our team, you can also call (984) 999-1266, or email us at midlifestressunc@unc.edu.
UNC Biomedical IRB #20-3029.

Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.

04/27/2021

Postpartum depression can show up in many different ways and it's no one's fault.
Symptoms include:
• Sadness, tearfulness, or hopelessness
• Outbursts or irritability, even over small matters
• Worrying or feeling overly anxious
• Thoughts of harming oneself or your baby

A research study in PPD is now enrolling. Visit https://skylarkstudy.com/ to learn more and see if you may qualify.

Evaluating an investigational oral medication in the treatment of women with severe postpartum depression.

02/02/2021

Please see below for a research study opportunity!

UNC now offers multiple research studies for pregnant and postpartum mothers. Research Studies for Pregnant Women Sleep and Bright Light Therapy for Depression in Pregnancy Research Study Our team is seeking pregnant volunteers (between the ages of 18 and 40) who are experiencing symptoms of depress...

05/06/2020

Honoring all Mom's this Maternal Mental Health Week!

02/06/2020

It's great to see innovative programs spread -- Family Connects Durham has been running a home visiting program for postpartum families in Durham county for over 10 years!

Every first-time parent in the city will soon be eligible to receive as many as six home visits from professionals.

01/13/2020

Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period are common and have significant negative impacts on mother and child. Read about maternal health initiatives in in the

Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period are common and have significant negative impacts on mother and child. Su***de is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Evidence-based efforts for screening, assessment, and treatment improve maternal and infant mental health, as well...

10/21/2019

- a collaboration by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD, Motherhood Understood & Jamina Bone Illustrations. Intrusive thoughts or images of causing harm to your baby are common. One study, looking at 100 women found that at 4 weeks postpartum, every single woman in the study had unwanted thoughts of accidental harm coming to her baby, and nearly HALF of the women had thoughts of intentionally harming their baby. The results of this study “provide no evidence that unwanted intrusive thoughts of intentionally harming one’s infant represent a risk of abuse or neglect.”

Women with postpartum depression and obsessive compulsive disorder are more likely to have these types of thoughts, and are likely to feel guilty and ashamed. Some considerations that perinatal mental health clinicians think about when talking with new moms who have these thoughts include: Is mom indifferent to these thoughts? Does mom try to bring these thoughts on? Does mom intend to act on these thoughts?

For the majority of mothers, the answers to these questions are “no.” Unlike thoughts that occur with postpartum psychosis, negative answers to the above questions indicate a very low risk of deliberately hurting the baby. Talking about these thoughts with a clinician who specializes in maternal mental health can help relieve the shame. If mom has a history of hurting her baby in the past, or intends to act on these thoughts, urgent medical attention is needed.

Fairbrother N, Woody SR. (2008). Archives of Women's Mental Health. II Lawrence PJ, Craske MG, Kempton C et al. (2017). Br J Gen Pract. II Wisner KL, Peindl KS, et al. (1999). J Clin Psychiatry.

(The information provided here is not medical advice. It is provided for education only. Do not delay seeking treatment because of something you read here. If you need help finding a perinatal mental health specialist in your area, check out the Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773, or their website www.postpartum.net for local resources. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, someone else, or in a clinical emergency, you should go to the ER or call 911 or the National Su***de Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.)

10/19/2019

- a collaboration by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD, Motherhood Understood & Jamina Bone Illustrations. Researchers have found higher rates of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in women during the perinatal period. A 2005 study found that of women who had OCD, 7% said symptoms developed in pregnancy. Half of the women in the study reported worsening of pre-existing OCD symptoms in the postpartum period and 20% said symptoms worsened pre-menstrually. The study suggests that certain women with OCD may be at higher risks of worsened symptoms during times of hormonal fluctuations.

In women with postpartum OCD, the most common obsessions were around contamination and symmetry/exactness, and the most common compulsions were around cleaning and checking. OCD symptoms can also develop or worsen around feeding the baby and breastfeeding.

Sharing these symptoms with your doctor is important. Since women who have perinatal OCD do not always feel depressed, the symptoms of OCD may go undiagnosed. OCD symptoms respond to treatment, just like symptoms of depression.

Labad J, Menchon J, Alonso P, Segalas C, Jimenez S, Vallejo J. (2005) J Clin Psychiatry. II Wisner KL, Peindl KS, et al. (1999). J Clin Psychiatry. II Uguz F, Gezginc K, Zeytinci IE, et al. (2007) Compr Psychiatry.

(The information provided here is not medical advice. It is provided for education only. Do not delay seeking treatment because of something you read here. If you need help finding a perinatal mental health specialist in your area, check out the Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773, or their website www.postpartum.net for local resources. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, someone else, or in a clinical emergency, you should go to the ER or call 911 or the National Su***de Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.)

10/18/2019

- a collaboration by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD, Motherhood Understood & Jamina Bone Illustrations. While postpartum depression usually gets most of the attention, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after delivery can also be devastating. PTSD can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a life threatening event. One study found 3.1% of women met criteria for PTSD, with rates as high as 25% when considering high risk moms.

Women can develop PTSD symptoms after medical complications during delivery like bleeding, infections, or health issues with the baby. Trauma is in the eye of the beholder, so while the medical team may consider the delivery to be medically successful, women may still feel traumatized.

Women who have a history of sexual trauma or intimate partner violence, multiple pregnancy losses, medical complications or NICU babies, prior birth traumas or with a history of depression are at higher risk for experiencing PTSD. The consequences of untreated PTSD can include problems with bonding and attachment.

Here are some tips to consider if you are high risk:
1. Tell your doctors about prior traumas and losses. Find a clinician with trauma sensitive practices & create a trauma informed birth plan.
2. Birth doulas can be powerful advocates in the delivery room in order to understand what’s going on and to provide agency in decision-making.
3. Massage and acupuncture are good for grounding and staying in your body, which is helpful for trauma symptoms.

Grekin R, O'Hara MW. (2014). Clinical Psychology Review. II Chang, HP et al. (2016). Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.

(The information provided here is not medical advice. It is provided for education only. Do not delay seeking treatment because of something you read here. If you need help finding a perinatal mental health specialist in your area, check out the Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773, or their website www.postpartum.net for local resources. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, someone else, or in a clinical emergency, you should go to the ER or call 911 or the National Su***de Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.)

10/18/2019

- a collaboration by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD, Motherhood Understood & Jamina Bone Illustrations. There is a myth that pregnancy is somehow protective against mental health issues, and this is simply not true. A history of anxiety or mood disorders increases risk – one study found that 40% of women with a history of depression developed depression during pregnancy or postpartum. When off medication, the rates of relapse were even higher. There is no one size fits all answer to the questions about staying on or going off psychiatric medication during pregnancy. These decisions should be made with your doctor.

1. UNTREATED depression and anxiety during pregnancy ALSO negatively impact mom and baby. We must compare the risks of untreated illness with the risks medication exposure. The decision to stay on medication or go off medication depends on many factors including mom’s history of illness, illness severity, and response to medications.

2. The optimal situation for women taking psychiatric meds is to begin planning BEFORE pregnancy. Meet with your doctor 6 to 12 months before TTC so there is enough time to make changes and see if they work. Medicine changes should be made before pregnancy and women should be stable before TTC.

3. Women with active psychiatric illness or a history of severe illness may need to stay on meds & this should be done with close psychiatric monitoring. Women should see their doctor ASAP when they find out their are pregnant to decide which, if any, medications need to be tapered.

Molenaar, Nina M., et al. (2019). PloS one. II Payne, JL. (2017). Psychiatric Clinics.

(The information provided here is not medical advice. It is provided for education only. Do not delay seeking treatment because of something you read here. If you need help finding a perinatal mental health specialist in your area, check out the Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773, or their website www.postpartum.net for local resources. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, someone else, or in a clinical emergency, you should go to the ER or call 911 or the National Su***de Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.)

10/17/2019

- a collaboration by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD, Motherhood Understood, & Jamina Bone Illustrations. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders - also known as PMADS - are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth. The biggest risk factors for developing a PMAD are having a history of depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, & psychosocial factors like conflict with partner, poor social support, and stressful life events (ie. moving, a new job, loss). A study looking at 6,000 women found that moms with minimal social support were 5 times more likely to experience postpartum depression (PPD).

While it’s not news to anyone that moms are sleep deprived, research suggests poor sleep is also a risk factor for depression & depression contributes to sleep issues. Women with PPD experience less effective sleep. Infants that don’t sleep well & maternal fatigue are associated with PPD.

Some tips to reduce risk:
1. Make a plan for extra support. Sign up for a mom’s group, join a neighborhood list-serve, get plugged into online communities.
2. Make a list of tangible tasks that folks can help you with after delivery, so that when friends ask how to help, you can easily delegate.
3. Make a sleep plan. Doctors recommend the goal of 6 consecutive hours. This is crucial to reducing risk, especially for those with a history of bipolar disorder.

O'Hara MW, & Wisner KL. (2014). Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. II Huang CM, Carter PA, Guo JL. (2004). Journal of Nursing Research. II Dennis CL, Ross L. (2005). Birth. II Kim TH, Connolly JA, & Tamim H. (2014). BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

(The information provided here is not medical advice. It is provided for education only. Do not delay seeking treatment because of something you read here. If you need help finding a perinatal mental health specialist in your area, check out the Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773, or their website www.postpartum.net for local resources. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, someone else, or in a clinical emergency, you should go to the ER or call 911 or the National Su***de Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.)