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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
06:39
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Pregnancy and depression: exploring a new potential treatment option
Deborah R Kim1, Juan Gonzalez, John P O'Reardon
1Perinatal Psychiatry Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. drkim@mail.med.upenn.edu
Current Psychiatry Reports
|November 14, 2009
Summary
Treating major depressive disorder during pregnancy is complex. This study proposes investigating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a novel, potentially safer treatment option for pregnant women.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) during pregnancy presents significant challenges.
- Current treatments like medication, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychotherapy have limitations for this population.
- There is a need for safe and effective therapeutic options for perinatal depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a novel treatment for MDD in pregnant women.
- To advocate for systematic investigation into the efficacy and safety of rTMS for perinatal depression.
Main Methods:
- This article proposes a novel device technology for systematic study.
- The focus is on evaluating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the context of pregnancy.
Main Results:
- No direct results are presented as this is a proposal for future research.
- The potential benefits of rTMS over existing treatments are highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) warrants systematic investigation as a potential treatment for major depressive disorder during pregnancy.
- Further research is crucial to establish the safety and efficacy profile of rTMS for this vulnerable patient group.
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