LOS ANGELES (July 13, 2020) – While many expecting and new mothers experience emotions of joy and happiness, others suffer from a range of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. But a new Cedars-Sinai program is dedicated to helping women fight the stigma often associated with maternal-related mental health disorders before, during and after pregnancy.
“More than just postpartum depression, one in five mothers experience Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, known as PMADs,” said Eynav Accortt, PhD, director of the new Reproductive Psychology Program. “These can encompass a range of mental health disorders including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder that occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum,” said Accortt.
To support women experiencing PMADs, the Reproductive Psychology Program focuses on four core principles, including universal screening for maternal depression and anxiety, connection to support services, early psychological intervention and treatment, and hospital community education.
As Accortt explains, the effects of PMADs aren’t only on the mother herself. Symptoms can affect the mother’s relationship with her infant, other children and spouse, and can interfere with her ability to lead a healthy life.
“Maternal drug-related death and suicide are in the same class as bleeding and high blood pressure as a leading cause of death during pregnancy and first-year postpartum,” said Accortt. “Our program is timely and critically important.”
Through the program’s screening protocol, in effect since 2017, the conversation shifts away from depression to focus instead on family wellness.
“By changing the conversation, we can fight the stigma of depression and allow new moms to honestly endorse symptoms, get educated and get connected to empirically validated treatments that work,” said Sarah Kilpatrick, MD, PhD, chair of Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Kilpatrick says recent research suggests that postpartum maternal depression rates double when the mother already has preexisting depression, making the need for education within the hospital system critically important. The research also underscores the need to intervene when a mother shows a main red flag, which Kilpatrick describes as symptoms that are causing interference in functioning.
In addition to an existing inpatient social work team providing support while women are in the hospital, the program now offers inpatient virtual support groups and a dedicated outpatient social worker who follows up with every woman who scores above a certain cutoff on the inpatient screening tool. The social worker re-screens the individual and provides support as needed.
“This type of case management and patient navigation is highly critical at this time of a woman’s life,” said Accortt.
The Cedars-Sinai Reproductive Psychology Clinic offers individual psychotherapy, as well as group psychotherapy, which includes IVF/fertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and termination support groups, and new moms’ therapy.
“We offer a range of interventions based on the mother’s unique needs, but all programs aim to minimize distressing symptoms and reduce their interference in functioning,” said Accortt.
Interested women can learn more, including insurance eligibility, and schedule an appointment by calling the Prenatal Diagnostic Center (310) 423-9999 and asking for the Reproductive Psychology Clinic.
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