Perinatal depression (PND) and perinatal anxiety are common conditions that can arise during or after pregnancy and can have a major impact on patients and their families. A potential outcome of PND includes death by suicide, a leading cause of maternal mortality. This article provides an overview of these conditions, including discussion of neurobiology, risk factors, warning signs for individuals at risk for suicide and/or infant harm, and relevant screening tools. Considerations for psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are highlighted, and an overview of neuroactive steroid gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor positive allosteric modulators, a newer pharmacologic treatment option for postpartum depression, is provided.
Keyphrases
- risk factors
- pregnant women
- end stage renal disease
- sleep quality
- small molecule
- depressive symptoms
- chronic kidney disease
- pregnancy outcomes
- newly diagnosed
- prognostic factors
- peritoneal dialysis
- cardiovascular events
- type diabetes
- preterm birth
- patient reported outcomes
- smoking cessation
- risk assessment
- physical activity
- replacement therapy