Obsessive compulsive disorder

Depression during pregnancy

05.12.2019

Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times in a woman's life, but for many it is a time of confusion, fear, stress and even depression . According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 14 to 23% of pregnant women experience some symptoms of such depression .

Depression is a mood disorder that affects one in four women at some point in their lives, so it's not surprising that women and pregnant women can be affected by the condition. But too often depression is not properly diagnosed during pregnancy because people think it is just another type of hormonal imbalance. This assumption can be dangerous for the mother and her unborn child. Depression during the wonderful period of pregnancy is a disease that can be treated and treated . However, it is important to seek help and support first.

What is depression during pregnancy?

Depression during pregnancy , or depression before birth, is a mood disorder similar to clinical depression . Mood disorders are biological disorders that involve changes in brain . During pregnancy, hormonal changes can affect chemicals in the brain that are directly linked to depression and anxiety. They can be aggravated by difficult life situations, which can lead to depression in a woman even during pregnancy .

Symptoms

Depressed women typically feel sad, worthless, and hopeless, have difficulty concentrating, sleep too little or too much, lose interest in things they enjoy, feel guilty, and often change their eating habits. Symptoms of depression last for 2 weeks or more in some women, and possible causes include relationship problems, depression in the family or personal life, fertility , stressful life events, pregnancy , or a history of violence or trauma.

Can depression during pregnancy harm your baby?

Without treatment , depression can have potentially dangerous risks for mother and baby. Without treatment, depression can lead to poor eating, drinking, smoking and suicidal behavior, which can cause premature birth , low birth weight and problems with child development. A woman who is depressed often does not have the strength or desire to care for herself or her newborn. Children born to depressed mothers may be less active, less attentive, and more agitated than children of those who are not depressed . Therefore, getting the right help is important for both mother and baby.

What is the treatment for depression during pregnancy?

If you think you may be struggling with depression , the most important step is to seek help. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and internal problems, and he or she will advise you on what treatment or therapy is needed in your case.

Are there safe medications to treat depression during pregnancy?

Antidepressants during pregnancy

There is much controversy about the safety and long-term effects of antidepressants taken during pregnancy . Some research suggests that some medications used to treat depression may be associated with newborn problems such as physical birth defects, heart , pulmonary hypertension, and low birth weight. A woman with mild to moderate depression can manage her symptoms through support groups, psychotherapy , and light therapy. But if a pregnant woman suffers from severe depression . of psychotherapy and medication is recommended In these cases, pregnant women should be aware that all medications will cross the placenta and reach their babies. There is not enough information about which medications are completely safe and which are at risk, but when treating severe depression you should always seek professional help.

Are there treatments?

Due to the controversy surrounding the use of some antidepressants during pregnancy , many women are interested in other ways to treat depression . As mentioned above, support groups, psychotherapy , and light therapy are alternatives to medication in the treatment of mild to moderate depression . In addition to this, you can try exercise, build a regular sleep schedule, eat healthy foods, acupuncture , take omega-3 or herbal and vitamin supplements, and of course, consult your doctor . And remember - your child needs you, so take the necessary measures!

Published in Psychotherapy Premium Clinic

Treatment of obsessive thoughts

Several different techniques can be used to treat obsessive thoughts. As a rule, specialists do not resort to drug treatment: for most patients, professional cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is sufficient.

Psychotherapeutic treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy targets the source of intrusive thoughts—inappropriate thoughts and beliefs. At each session the patient is gradually restricted, and with each visit to the doctor the degree of restrictions increases. Ultimately, the situation is brought to the point of a complete ban on habitual actions on a subconscious level. As a result, anxiety is reduced.

The cognitive-behavioral method is based on focusing on experiences that the patient perceives as a catastrophe. The method is aimed at “reconfiguring” the brain, and the result of the sessions is a gradual weakening of the sense of responsibility, and at the same time an adequate response to thoughts and experiences that bother the patient is developed.

Group psychotherapy helps with obsessive thoughts. When a person spends time around people who have the same problem, he begins to become convinced of his inadequacy, unworthiness and abnormality. These sessions help patients gain self-confidence, increase self-esteem, and at the same time become more active and cope with obsessive disorder much faster.

Pharmacological treatment

Medicines are practically useless for treating obsessive thoughts. Drug therapy helps cope with symptoms, and complete recovery is impossible with pills alone. As a rule, several groups of drugs are prescribed:

• neuroleptics;
• tranquilizers;
• antidepressants.

At the initial stage, intense anxiety is treated with anxiolytic drugs (diazepam, etc.). Benzodiazepine tranquilizers have a targeted effect on the brain, namely its limbic system, which is responsible for emotional function. There is an opinion that such drugs allow one to cope with obsessive thoughts by influencing the neurons of the “punishment system”, which form negative feelings. Despite the effectiveness of the drug, the course of treatment should be short-term, since tranquilizers can cause dependence and addiction.

For obsessive thoughts, the drug of choice is venlafaxine, as well as other drugs based on selective norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. When a deficiency syndrome is added to the disease, drugs from the SNRI group, such as a combination of atomoxetine and sertaline, can be included in the course of drug therapy.

When antidepressants have shown their failure, and the disease has become chronic, therapy with antipsychotics, such as risperidone, is used. These drugs belong to the class of antipsychotics and reduce a person’s emotionality, but they are characterized by a direct relationship between the use of large doses, the development of depression and increased obsessive thoughts. For this reason, antipsychotics are not used to treat this disease in some countries, such as the United States.

In the CIS countries, in severe cases of OBD, it is customary to use zuclopenthixol and other long-acting drugs if the disease does not have depressive symptoms.