Virtual Wednesday Lecture Series: Management of Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy and Lactation

Over 50% of psychiatric patients are women. Over 80% of women will have at least one pregnancy, and 50% of these are unplanned. Yet mental health and women’s health practitioners receive little training in reproductive psychiatry and are often not knowledgeable the management of psychiatric illness in the perinatal period. The goal of this presentation is to education clinicians about the risks of treating – and NOT treating – psychiatric illness in pregnancy and postpartum, and to provide a general clinical approach for treatment of the perinatal patient. This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors and other mental health professionals. At the conclusion of this activity, attendees will be able to: Understand the risk factors for mood symptoms in the perinatal period. Define the potential risks of no treatment for psychiatric illness during and after pregnancy. Define the potential risks and benefits of psychiatric medication use during pregnancy and lactation.