Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...

Drug Therapy

Drug Therapy

The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...

Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview

Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview

Anxiolytic drugs are vital in managing anxiety disorders by effectively alleviating symptoms such as excessive fear, tachycardia, and tremors. There are several classes of anxiolytic medications, each with unique mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Mental Health Screening and Referrals for Unaccompanied Migrant Youths at Pediatric Intake Visits.

Academic pediatrics·2025

Same author

A Descriptive Study of Career Satisfaction and Professional Trajectories of Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives.

Journal of midwifery & women's health·2025

Same author

Needs Assessment in Under-resourced Clinics: Lessons From Attempts to Identify Mental Health Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Resource-limited Pediatric Clinics.

Disaster medicine and public health preparedness·2025

Same author

Midwifery Students' Experiences of Bias in the Clinical Setting: Prevalence, Types, and Impact.

Journal of midwifery & women's health·2024

Same author

Persistence of Emotional Distress in Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents Primarily From the Northern Triangle of Central America.

JAMA network open·2023

Same author

Experiences of Mothers Participating in a Mother-Child Video Therapy Program.

Journal of midwifery & women's health·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Antidepressant medication use in pregnancy.

Barbara Hackley¹

¹Women's Health Services, Montefiore South Bronx Health Center for Children and Families, 871 Prospect Ave., Bronx, NY 10459, USA.

Journal of Midwifery & Women'S Health

|March 2, 2010

Summary

Depression affects about 12% of pregnant women, yet providers often lack confidence in managing it. This article offers guidance for healthcare professionals on managing depression during pregnancy, including the use of antidepressants.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Area of Science:

Reproductive health
Perinatal mental health
Pharmacology in pregnancy

Background:

Depression is a prevalent condition during pregnancy, affecting approximately 12% of women.
Many healthcare providers report feeling unprepared to manage depression in pregnant patients.
Effective management of perinatal depression is crucial for maternal and fetal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

To equip women's health providers with essential background knowledge for managing depression in pregnancy.
To specifically address the safe and effective use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy.
To enhance provider confidence and competence in treating perinatal depression.

Main Methods:

Review of current literature on perinatal depression management.
Analysis of guidelines regarding antidepressant use in pregnancy.
Synthesis of clinical recommendations for healthcare providers.

Main Results:

Provides a comprehensive overview of depression in pregnancy.
Details the considerations and evidence for using antidepressants during gestation.
Highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care.

Conclusions:

Effective management of depression in pregnancy is achievable with adequate knowledge and resources.
Antidepressant medication can be a valuable tool when used judiciously in pregnant women with depression.
Empowering healthcare providers is key to improving outcomes for mothers and infants.