Psychiatry and Obstetrics: An Imperative for Collaboration

Barriers to care and treatment experiences among individuals with postpartum psychosis

PURPOSE

Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a severe psychiatric disorder affecting 1-2 per 1,000 deliveries. Prompt access to healthcare and timely initiation of treatment are crucial to minimizing harm and improving outcomes. This analysis seeks to fill gaps in knowledge surrounding barriers to care and treatment experiences among this population.

METHODS

Participants were individuals with histories of PP who enrolled in the Massachusetts General Hospital Postpartum Psychosis Project (MGHP3). The MGHP3 Healthcare Access Survey, a cross-sectional questionnaire, assesses barriers to care, treatment-seeking behaviors, and experiences with treatment. Descriptive statistics were utilized to describe sample characteristics.

RESULTS

139 participants provided 146 episode-specific survey responses. Lack of available services was cited as the greatest barrier to care for PP. Among those who sought treatment, obstetric providers (34.5%) and emergency medical professionals (29.4%) were the most common initial points of contact. 82.2% of the respondents went to an emergency room or crisis center during their episode(s). Most (61.8%) reported being given insufficient information to manage their PP. Approximately half of participants were hospitalized (55.5%), the majority of whom had no access to their infant during hospitalization (70.4%). Of those breastfeeding or pumping at admission, 31.3% were not given access to a breast pump. 44.4% dealt with delivery-related medical issues during their hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

This report is the first of its kind to assess key public health domains among individuals with PP. Findings point to several directions for future research and clinical practice to improve treatment timeliness and quality, potentially improving long-term outcomes related to this serious illness.

A Peer-to-Peer, Longitudinal Reproductive Psychiatry Educational Curriculum for Obstetrics/Gynecology Residents

OBJECTIVE

Pregnant patients with psychiatric diagnoses are commonly advised to stop their psychiatric medications. Few studies assess the knowledge of, attitude toward, or comfort levels of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residents in managing psychiatric conditions, which carry adverse and potentially life-threatening risks to mother and fetus. A gap remains between evidence advocating for active psychopharmacological treatment during pregnancy and implementation of curricula targeting OB/GYN physicians in mental health. The authors' goals are to assess the knowledge, attitude, and comfort that OB/GYN residents have toward assessing and managing active psychiatric conditions in pregnant/postpartum women and to develop an educational, case-based intervention targeting these conditions in the perinatal/postpartum period.

METHODS

Eight perinatal/postpartum psychiatric topics were developed into interactive cases designed for OB/GYN residents. Two weeks before the curriculum administration, OB/GYN residents were surveyed on prior knowledge in, attitudes toward, and comfort levels in assessing and discussing psychiatric conditions in pregnant patients. The assessment was administered again after the intervention to assess its effectiveness.

RESULTS

Pre- (N = 19) and post-intervention (N = 15) surveys of residents were analyzed. Most residents (94%) felt it was both important and their responsibility to discuss mental health conditions with pregnant patients. Comfort levels with counseling psychiatric patients increased for all eight topics after the educational intervention was implemented, with statistically significant increases (p < 0.05) for five of the topics.

CONCLUSIONS

OB/GYN residents feel responsible for caring for pregnant patients with psychiatric illness, and case-based interventions offer an interactive, helpful tool for increasing residents' knowledge and comfort level in treating this patient population.

Mapping of Transdiagnostic Neuropsychiatric Phenotypes Across Patients in Two General Hospitals

BACKGROUND

Multidimensional transdiagnostic phenotyping systems are increasingly important to neuropsychiatric phenotyping, particularly in translational research settings. The relationship the National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria multidimensional approach to psychopathology and nonpsychiatric diagnoses has not been studied at scale but is relevant to those caring for neuropsychiatric illness in medical and surgical settings.

METHODS

We applied the CQH Dimensional Phenotyper natural language processing tool to estimate National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria domain-associated symptoms of individuals admitted to nonpsychiatric wards at each of 2 large academic general hospitals over an 8-year period. We compared patterns in individual domain symptom burden, as well as a new pooled unidimensional measure, by primary medical and surgical diagnosis.

RESULTS

Analysis included 227,243 patients from hospital 1 of whom 68,793 (30.3%) had a prior psychiatric history and 220,213 patients from hospital 2 of whom 50,818 (23.1%) had a prior psychiatric history. The distribution of Research Domain Criteria symptom burdens over primary diagnosis was similar across hospital sites and differed significantly across primary medical or surgical diagnosis. The effect of primary medical or surgical diagnosis was larger than that of prior psychiatric history on Research Domain Criteria symptom burden.

CONCLUSION

Research Domain Criteria-based neuropsychiatric symptom burden estimated from general hospital patients' clinical documentation is more strongly associated with the primary hospital medical or surgical diagnosis than it is with the presence of a previous psychiatric history. The bidirectional role of psychiatric and somatic illness warrants further study through the lens of transdiagnostic phenotyping.

Intravenous brexanolone for postpartum depression: what it is, how well does it work, and will it be used?

Postpartum depression is considered to be a subtype of major depressive disorder that occurs in approximately 10-20% of mothers worldwide. However, in actuality, these numbers are likely underreported due to minimization and the stigma of mental illness. Until recently, there were no approved medications for the treatment of postpartum depression. Allopregnanolone is a naturally occurring neuroactive steroid whose serum levels decline precipitously following childbirth. This hormonal fluctuation has been postulated as playing a role in the pathophysiology of postpartum depression. Brexanolone is the first medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of postpartum depression. Brexanolone is an intravenous proprietary formulation of allopregnanolone that can be administered to produce stable serum levels comparable with third-trimester concentrations in postpartum mothers. It is hypothesized to modulate neuronal excitability by functioning as an allosteric modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptors and is administered under monitoring as a 60 h continuous infusion. In this review, we will highlight the results of the clinical trial program, including efficacy and tolerability data. Practical and logistical considerations of brexanolone will be reviewed, as will its potential place in therapy for the treatment of postpartum depression.

Anxiety, depression, and birth outcomes in a cohort of unmedicated women

BACKGROUND

Even though most of the systematic reviews suggest that depression and anxiety are related to poor neonatal outcomes, it is not yet clear whether a dose-response effect exists.

AIM

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the amount of depressive and anxiety symptoms in a cohort of pregnant women and its effect on their newborns.

METHODS

Two hundred ninety-nine women were assessed for anxiety and depressive disorders and anxious and depressive symptoms at near monthly intervals throughout pregnancy. At the time of delivery, we collected the newborns' gestational age, birth weight and the Apgar score at 1 and 5 min.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven women were diagnosed as depressed and 43 had an anxious disorder. After controlling for confounding variables only the overall levels of anxiety during pregnancy were negatively associated with birth weight (B = -5.76; 95% CI = -10.96, -2.81), suggesting the existence of a "dose-response" effect. The birth outcomes in mildly depressed pregnant women were similar to those of nondepressed women.

CONCLUSION

Anxiety symptoms, beyond a categorical diagnosis, are associated with low birth weight and should be recognized and properly treated during pregnancy.

A Pilot Study of Partner Chair Massage Effects on Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Pain

BACKGROUND

Women worldwide experience perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain contributing to pregnancy and birth challenges, maternal and infant bonding, and childhood development. Perinatal women seek massage therapy for relaxation, pain management, and emotional support, but may encounter socioeconomic barriers. Prior studies demonstrated improved perinatal health by teaching partners of pregnant women a side-lying massage.

PURPOSE

This study examined health effects to perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain, by teaching partners of pregnant (PG) women a chair massage.

SETTING

Participant's homes in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve PG women with minor mood, anxiety, and pain: 67% white, 33% Hispanic, college educated, married, aged 32 years (± 3.86 SD), 67% expecting a first child, annual incomes ≤ $50,000 (33%), > $50,000 (67%).

RESEARCH DESIGN

A pre/postintervention pilot study in a single group for eight weeks.

INTERVENTION

Twice weekly partner-delivered chair massage and its relation to perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pre/poststudy perinatal massage effects were measured with the Edinburgh Depression Scale (mood), the STAI-AD (anxiety), and the VAS (pain). Weekly text messaging tracked dose and frequency, follow-up surveys measured sustainability, and birth outcomes were acquired by texting.

RESULTS

Study retention was 86%, protocol compliance 94%, with couples averaging 10-minute, twice weekly chair massage over the eight-week study period. Paired-sample t tests indicated statistically significant improvements to perinatal mood and anxiety, Cohen's d, a large strength of effect size (p = .012, d = 0.87; p = .004, d = 1.03). A trend was observed for reduced pain, with a medium strength of effect size (p = .071; d = 0.58). Follow-up surveys indicated most couples were sustaining at least weekly massage. Birth outcomes showed healthy infants with no complications, mean birth weight of 7.26 pounds, and mean gestation of 39 weeks.

CONCLUSION

This is the first evidence of partner chair massage as safe and effective complementary home management of perinatal mood, anxiety, and pain.

Mood symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women with bipolar disorder: a naturalistic study

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a prospective naturalistic study of pregnant women with bipolar disorder (BD) to evaluate symptoms of BD across childbearing and assess whether pharmacotherapy reduced their severity.

METHODS

Assessments were scheduled at 20, 30, and 36 weeks' gestation and 2, 12, 26, and 52 weeks postpartum. Symptoms were assessed using the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS) and Mania Rating Scale (MRS).

RESULTS

Pregnant women (N=152) with BD were evaluated; 88 women (58%) were treated and 64 untreated (42%) with psychotropic drugs during pregnancy. Among the 88 women treated, 23 (26%) discontinued their medication in the first trimester and the remaining 65 (74%) were exposed throughout pregnancy or in the second and third trimesters. More than two-thirds (73%) of the women who remained in the study took psychotropic agents postpartum. The mean scores on the SIGH-ADS were in the mild range of depressive symptoms in both the psychotropic-treated and untreated groups in both pregnancy and postpartum. The majority of women had no or few symptoms of mania. Of the pregnant women treated with psychotropic agents, 66% received a guideline-concordant drug, and 34% received either antidepressant monotherapy (for BD I) or mono- or polypharmacy with a variety of other agents.

CONCLUSIONS

This sample of perinatal women with BD was characterized by mild residual symptoms of depression independent of pharmacotherapy, which poses a risk for recurrence and impaired parenting. The treatment of childbearing women with BD deserves urgent clinical and research attention to improve psychiatric outcomes.