Dysthymia is a psychiatric condition that belongs to a larger group of conditions known as depressive disorders. People with the disorder have somewhat less severe forms of some of the symptoms found in people with major depressive disorder (major depression). However, by its very nature, dysthymia lasts for extended periods of time, and its overall
Recent findings from a team of Canadian researchers indicate that a form of change-oriented psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy can help ease the impact of anxiety in pregnant women.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reduces Anxiety During Pregnancy Read More »
Nearly 5 percent of children in the U.S. may be affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a new study finds, a figure much higher than previously thought.
Up to 5 Percent of Children Affected by Mothers’ Drinking, Study Finds Read More »
Women with a history of severe bipolar disorder have a much higher chance of giving birth to their children prematurely, a new study finds.
Bipolar Disorder Increases Risk for Premature Birth Read More »
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder affecting literally millions of Americans. Some of those struggling to overcome intense mood swings are brand new mothers. A study of women with various kinds of mental health disorders found that pregnant and post-partum moms with bipolar may have the toughest time of all. Researchers from Brown University conducted
By Jeanene Swanson — The use and misuse of prescription opioids by pregnant women has increased from 1.2 per 1,000 hospital live births in 2000 to 5.6 in 2009 in the last 10 years. What’s even more unsettling is that even in light of these statistics, several recent studies have found that doctors are prescribing
Study Finds Spike in Opioid Use During Pregnancy Read More »
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant drug of abuse known for its ability to trigger addiction in repeated users. Current evidence suggests that a significant number of methamphetamine-using women continue to take the drug when they become pregnant. In a study published in March 2014 in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers from eight U.S. institutions used
Children Exposed to Methamphetamine Before Birth Struggle in Classroom Read More »
Prescription drug abuse always has the potential to cause physical and emotional harm to an addict and his or her loved ones. This type of substance abuse is serious enough that it often requires professional addiction treatment in order to recover. However, when the addict is a pregnant woman, the risk of harm extends to
From the constant barrage of “are you pregnant yet?” to the disappointment of yet another negative pregnancy test, it’s no surprise that many women with fertility issues must also deal with deep feelings of sadness and frustration. In fact, negative feelings are common in those struggling to become or stay pregnant. Sometimes, though, those emotions
A new study published in the online journal Biological Psychiatry provides the first evidence that prenatal exposure to the stress hormones glucocorticoids predicts smoking and nicotine dependence later in life among women. The study confirmed previous research on prenatal smoking, and suggested that this increased risk of nicotine addiction is the result of exposure to