Talk, drug therapy may ease depression

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, August 24, 2009
Women who are depressed during pregnancy can take hope that antidepressants and/or “talk therapy” may be safe and appropriate treatment options, according to new professional guidelines made public this week.

“Depression in pregnant women often goes unrecognized and untreated in part because of concerns about the safety of treating women during pregnancy,” lead author of the guidelines, Dr. Kimberly Ann Yonkers, from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, said in a statement. The guidelines on depression in pregnancy, which are based on an extensive review of prior research, were issued by the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. There are both pros and cons to using antidepressants during pregnancy, the report states. The drugs can effectively treat mom’s depression, which has been linked to problems in the newborn. However, there is also evidence tying them to birth defects and reduced birth weight. Psychotherapy may be a suitable alternative to antidepressants for some women with mild-to-moderate depression, the report indicates. According to the report, women thinking about becoming pregnant may possibly taper or discontinue their antidepressants if they have had mild or no symptoms for 6 months or longer.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194619