Perinatal depression and anxiety

Abstract

ABSTRACT Perinatal depression (PND) and perinatal anxiety are common conditions that can arise during or after pregnancy and can have a major impact on patients and their families. A potential outcome of PND includes death by suicide, a leading cause of maternal mortality. This article provides an overview of these conditions, including discussion of neurobiology, risk factors, warning signs for individuals at risk for suicide and/or infant harm, and relevant screening tools. Considerations for psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are highlighted, and an overview of neuroactive steroid gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor positive allosteric modulators, a newer pharmacologic treatment option for postpartum depression, is provided.