Perinatal Depression: A Review and an Update

Abstract

Perinatal depression is a common psychiatric condition that has negative effects on pregnancy and infant outcomes. Screening for the condition is relatively easy and should be done routinely in all medical care of the pregnant and postpartum woman and her infant. The risk-benefit analysis favors the use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy and lactation compared with the risk of untreated maternal depression. Other, nonpharmacological treatments will be discussed as well as new treatments, including a new class of medications that act on the inhibitory GABAergic neurotransmitter system.

Keywords: Allopregnanolone; Antenatal depression; Antidepressants; GABAergic neurotransmission; Infant; Lactation; Perinatal depression; Postpartum depression.