A Deeper Shade of Blue

Although pregnancy has often been concerned a time of emotional well-being, several recent studies have indicated that women are vulnerable to depression during pregnancy. Analyzing data from the Kaiser Permanente Northwest HMO, researchers assessed the prevalence of depression before, during, and after pregnancy in a group of 4,398 women with pregnancies ending in a live […]

According to multiple studies, it is estimated that about 10% to 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy. Given the concerns regarding the use of medications during pregnancy and the incomplete information regarding the reproductive safety of certain antidepressants, there is a need for effective non-pharmacologic options for the treatment of depression during […]

A Deeper Shade of Blue is now out in paperback. Here are some of the latest reviews:
“Timely and critical. A lot has been written about postpartum depression but very little about depression as it pertains to the entire spectrum of childbearing, and rearing, and Dr. Nonacs has done a fantastic job of illuminating and […]

About 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy, and many reports have suggested that depression during pregnancy may have negative effects on the fetus A new study has discovered a link between depression and anxiety during pregnancy and infant sleep problems after childbirth.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor and his colleagues evaluated data from a […]

About 10% to 15% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy.  Literature accumulated over the last decade supports the use of certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the older tricyclic antidepressants during pregnancy, indicating no overall increase in the risk of congenital malformation in children exposed to these medications during the first trimester of […]

There are many studies which support the use of certain antidepressants during pregnancy. Most of the research over the last decade has focused on the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine (Prozac) and the older tricyclic antidepressants but there is some new data supporting the use of bupropion (Wellbutrin) during pregnancy.
Earlier reports had revealed […]

Women commonly believe that pregnancy is a time of emotional well-being, however, the reality is that about 10% to 15% of women experience clinically significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Furthermore, women with a history of major depression appear to be at highest risk for depression during pregnancy, particularly if they choose to discontinue treatment with […]

There is research to support the reproductive safety of certain antidepressants, including Prozac (fluoxetine) and the older tricyclic antidepressants. Less information on reproductive safety is available for the newer antidepressants. A recent study form researchers at the Motherisk Program in Toronto has looked at outcomes in infants exposed to the antidepressant mirtazapine (Remeron) in pregnancy. […]

Earlier this year a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine linked SSRI use during late pregnancy to an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a cardiovascular syndrome typically occurring in full-term or near-term infants. Typically within 12 hours of delivery, infants […]

Over the last decade, anticonvulsant medications or anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have been used more frequently in women of reproductive age. While this class of medications may be particularly helpful for the treatment of bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, they have significant interactions with other drugs. Many anticonvulsants induce liver enzymes and thus may enhance […]