Postpartum Depression News and Research

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Eighty percent of women experience some level of the baby blues after giving birth, and symptoms usually clear up on their own. One in eight-to-ten women experiences postpartum depression. When symptoms don't go away in a few weeks, women should seek help through health care providers and licensed counselors. Treatment may include talk therapy, medication, support groups, or a combination of these.

Medicaid tweak might offer means to improve U.S. maternal health

When Madavia Johnson gave birth to Donald Ray Dowless III last year, she was hit by a case of severe postpartum anxiety.

13 Nov 2019

Link between pregnancy stress, immune activation, and postpartum depression

A new study presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting on October 19, 2019, at Chicago, shows for the first time how postpartum depression could actually be due to abnormal immune system activation within the brain, which in turn is set off by chronic pregnancy stress. This is the earliest study to show this link in animals.

22 Oct 2019

Study uncovers brain biology behind postpartum depression

Chronic stress during pregnancy triggers an immune response in the brain that has potential to alter brain functions in ways that could contribute to postpartum depression, new research in animals suggests.

22 Oct 2019

Research shows brain's immune system gets activated by stress during pregnancy

21 Oct 2019

Twin birth rate falls in the US due to improvements in reproductive technology

According to a new report by the CDC, twin birth rates in the US have dropped by 4% since 2014, potentially due to improvements in reproductive technology.

4 Oct 2019

Resilience exerts a protective role against negative effects of stress during pregnancy

Resilience—understood as the set of personal resources that help individuals deal effectively with adversity, protecting them from the negative health effects of stress—is receiving increasing attention from researchers.

6 Sep 2019

Researchers seek to identify biomarkers that may predict suicide risk among women

A four-year, $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health will help researchers determine how the stabilization of ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone may help lower symptoms associated with suicidality among females with longstanding thoughts of suicide.

5 Aug 2019

iTHRIV and community groups partner to address health needs across Virginia

Four biomedical research projects to improve the health of Virginians will be funded by the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), a Clinical Translational Science Award Hub.

5 Aug 2019

Maternal behavior in mice linked to oxytocin-sensitive cells in the female brain

A startling new study shows that cells that are exquisitely sensitive to oxytocin are found in a tiny region in the brains of female but not male mice. This could be of great importance in explaining maternal behavior in females and eventually in treating social disorders like postpartum depression and autism spectrum disorder.

25 Jul 2019

Opioid overdose found to be most common cause of pregnancy-associated death in new moms

As the opioid epidemic rages on, one vulnerable group--new moms--have often been overlooked.

9 May 2019

PSU researcher to identify the behavioral health needs of parents with NICU babies

Thirteen years ago, Susanne Klawetter gave birth to triplets. They required a stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Stays like Klawetter's are relatively common: about 10 percent of all babies born nationwide will require care in a NICU, according to the National Institutes of Health.

8 May 2019

FDA approves brexanolone, first drug developed to treat postpartum depression

Approximately 1 in 9 women in the United States experiences symptoms of postpartum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

21 Mar 2019

First postpartum depression drug gets FDA nod

Sage therapeutics’ Zulresso became the first drug approved for postpartum depression by the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). This cause the shares of Sage to rise by over 5 percent on Tuesday this week.

20 Mar 2019

FDA approves first drug for treatment of postpartum depression in adult women

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zulresso (brexanolone) injection for intravenous use for the treatment of postpartum depression in adult women. This is the first drug approved by the FDA specifically for PPD.

20 Mar 2019

Depression prevention for pregnant women and new mothers – new recommendations

At present all new mothers are screened for symptoms of depression and help is provided to those who need care. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now has urged doctors to screen pregnant women for risks of depression and provide adequate counselling and support to prevent the onset of depression after delivery. The report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.

14 Feb 2019

Study examines hospital readmissions for women with postpartum psychiatric diseases

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 15% of women develop postpartum depression. Postpartum psychiatric diseases occur on a continuum and extreme manifestations are life-threatening and require hospitalization.

12 Feb 2019

Integrated care to women with PMADs offered at several levels

Over the past several decades, it's become increasingly recognized that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, are more than just "baby blues."

17 Jan 2019

New study identifies four characteristics that predict severity of postpartum depression

A new Northwestern Medicine study was able to successfully predict if a new mother would experience worsening depressive symptoms over the first year after giving birth by identifying four maternal characteristics that put her at risk.

17 Jan 2019

Researcher takes further steps in understanding how and why cute aggression occurs

Have you ever looked at a puppy and had the urge to squeeze or even bite it? Or felt compelled to pinch a baby's cheeks, albeit without a desire to harm it? If you answered yes to either question, you've experienced a phenomenon called cute aggression -- and you're far from alone.

5 Dec 2018

Improving access to behavioral health screenings for pregnant and postpartum women

The number one medical complication of pregnancy and childbirth for mothers is depression and/or anxiety, with one in seven women suffering from a mood disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

16 Oct 2018