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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Neuromodulation and antenatal depression: a review
Deborah R Kim1, Jessica L Snell1, Grace C Ewing1
1Department of Psychiatry, Penn Center for Women's Behavioral Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
|April 22, 2015
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment for major depressive disorder during pregnancy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation may also be safe, but requires further research for use in pregnant patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Pregnancy depression affects 5%-8% of women.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions are preferred by pregnant women.
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitor use during pregnancy has increased.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review neuromodulation techniques for major depressive disorder in pregnancy.
- Discuss rationale, new developments, and future directions.
- Evaluate treatment options for pregnant women with depression.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PubMed Plus, Ovid Medline, and Embase.
- Included articles from 1960-2014 on neuromodulation for depression in pregnancy.
- Keywords: electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, neuromodulation, depression, pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Electroconvulsive therapy is supported for all trimesters of pregnancy.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation shows emerging data suggesting safety.
- Other neuromodulation techniques lack sufficient study in this population.
Conclusions:
- Electroconvulsive therapy is a viable option for major depressive disorder throughout pregnancy.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation may be safe but needs more data for primary use.
- Further research is needed for other neuromodulation techniques in pregnant patients.
