Tag Archives: Depression

Essential Reads: Zuranolone for Postpartum Depression

In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved brexanolone, marketed by Sage Therapeutics as Zulresso, as a treatment for postpartum depression (PPD).  As a neurosteroid, brexanolone represents a novel approach to the treatment of postpartum mood disorders.  One of the most exciting things about brexanolone is the rapidity of the response, with the initial… Read More »

Psychedelic spurs growth of neural connections lost in depression

The psychedelic drug psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound found in some mushrooms, has been studied as a potential treatment for depression for years. But exactly how it works in the brain and how long beneficial results might last is still unclear. In a new study, Yale researchers show that a single dose of psilocybin given… Read More »

Depression During Pregnancy Affect Infant’s Brain Anatomy, But No Change with Prenatal Exposure to SSRIs

When a woman comes in for a consultation regarding the use of medications during pregnancy, we spend most of our time reviewing the potential risks of exposure to medications during pregnancy.  However, we must also include a discussion of the effects of untreated psychiatric illness in the mother on the developing child, for there is… Read More »

Perimenopausal Depression in Women with More Variable Levels of Estradiol and Lower Progesterone Levels

Women are at increased risk for depressive symptoms during the menopause transition.  It has long been suspected that falling estrogen levels play a role in triggering the onset of depression; however, if all women experience declining levels of estrogen and progesterone during this transition, why is it that only some women suffer from depression in… Read More »

Menopausal Depression is Common, Who Is at Risk?

Patients and clinicians may not be fully aware that women are at increased risk for depression during the menopausal transition.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that clinicians screen all adults for depression, highlighting the importance of screening in populations at particularly high risk for depression.  While these recommendations have prompted increased awareness… Read More »