Archives Of Women's Mental Health[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Daughters-in-law's perceptions and experiences with MILAP, a family-based intervention to reduce intimate partner violence and improve mental health in Nepal.
Joshi S, Khatri R, Shrestha J … +12 more , Shrestha M, Sharma S, Rimal P, Sharma D, Nepali S, Sigdel K, Shrestha S, Poudel S, Mainali S, Dhimal M, Acharya B, Sapkota S
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2026 Jan · PMID 41484672 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health (MH) issues among women in Nepal are deeply influenced by complex intergenerational family dynamics and power hierarchies. The traditional power hierarchies o...
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health (MH) issues among women in Nepal are deeply influenced by complex intergenerational family dynamics and power hierarchies. The traditional power hierarchies often place mothers-in-law (MILs) in authoritative roles over daughters-in-law (DILs), limiting the latter's autonomy and decision-making power. We designed a multi-component family intervention called MILAP to lower depression and address intimate partner violence by improving communication, promoting gender equity, and improving family relationships. This paper explores the perceptions and experiences of DILs who received the MILAP intervention. METHODS: A total of 61 families participated in a pilot study of the MILAP intervention. Of these, 8 families (comprising triads of daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, and husband) were purposively selected for in-depth interviews (IDIs). All interviews were conducted immediately after the intervention and at the 6-month follow-up to assess MILAP's sustainability and impact. A thematic approach was used to analyze the data, utilizing Dedoose data management software. RESULTS: Four major themes were identified: (1) Enhanced communication within the family, (2) Strengthened DIL's empowerment, (3) Improved relationship quality, and (4) Increased DIL's freedom of movement. Participants reported improvement in communication among family members, particularly by using active listening skills which in turn contributed to conflict reduction and a more harmonious family environment. DILs experienced increased empowerment. They were more involved in family decision-making as the family unit adopted more equitable gender norms. The intervention strengthened spousal relationship improved MIL-DIL interactions, facilitated mutual understanding, and reduced household stress. Additionally, MILAP enabled DILs to move more freely outside the home. This increased mobility expanded their social networks, as DILs participated in community events, visited natal families, and accessed health services. However, some participants expressed concerns about the long-term sustainability of these changes, highlighting the need for continued reinforcement. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores the importance of a family-based intervention in improving relationship quality and promoting autonomy among DILs experiencing IPV. The positive shifts perceived within families suggest promise for MILAP to strengthen support structures and address factors that may influence DIL's mental health. However, ongoing follow-up and reinforcement strategies are recommended to maintain the gains achieved from the intervention.
Associations between attentional disengagement from distressed infant faces and cortisol reactivity are moderated by depressive symptoms in pregnant women: an eye-tracking study.
Dworschak C, Paganini G, Beech A … +4 more , Gunther KE, Rutherford HJV, Joormann J, Gadassi-Polack R
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2026 Jan · PMID 41484360 · Full text
PURPOSE: Antenatal depression is a common psychological condition in pregnancy that negatively influences parenting. Theoretical models suggest that infant cue processing may represent one pathway by which depression may...
PURPOSE: Antenatal depression is a common psychological condition in pregnancy that negatively influences parenting. Theoretical models suggest that infant cue processing may represent one pathway by which depression may influence parenting. However, current understanding of how infant cue processing is linked with parenting in depression remains limited. Drawing upon previous research, cortisol stress reactivity may play an important role in this regard. The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction between depressive symptoms and attentional disengagement from infant cues on cortisol reactivity. We examined this in a sample of pregnant and nulliparous women to test whether potential effects were specific to pregnancy. METHODS: N = 79 women (n = 36 pregnant) completed two eye-tracking tasks examining disengagement from adult and infant stimuli, a stress manipulation task including collection of salivary cortisol, and filled out the BDI-II. RESULTS: Pregnant (vs. nulliparous) women showed a stronger cortisol reactivity in response to a stress test. Additionally, a significant association between disengagement from distressed infant faces and cortisol reactivity was found in the pregnant (but not nulliparous) group, which was moderated by depressive symptoms. For pregnant women with low levels of depressive symptoms, a slower disengagement from distressed infant stimuli predicted a weaker cortisol reactivity in response to stress, while the opposite pattern was observed for pregnant women with high levels of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the present study point at maternal distress during processing of infant distress as a potential intervention target for mothers with depression.
A critical reappraisal of the PROMUD program: bridging the 20-year gap in women's substance use disorder treatment.
Saleem S, Azam M, Muneer M
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2026 Jan · PMID 41484231 · Publisher ↗
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Global prevalence and associated factors of severe fear of childbirth: a systematic review and Meta-Analysis.
Maghalian M, Alizadeh-Dibazari Z, Mirghafourvand M
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2026 Jan · PMID 41483192 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Fear of childbirth (FoC), particularly its severe form (tokophobia), is a significant public health concern associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. While previous meta-analyses have provided g...
BACKGROUND: Fear of childbirth (FoC), particularly its severe form (tokophobia), is a significant public health concern associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. While previous meta-analyses have provided global prevalence estimates, significant knowledge gaps remain due to limited studies. This study aimed to provide an updated global prevalence estimate of severe FoC and explore sources of heterogeneity and associated risk factors. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. We searched international and Persian databases from inception until June 2025 for cross-sectional and cohort studies reporting severe FoC prevalence in pregnant women using validated tools with defined cutoffs. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects models were used for meta-analysis, with heterogeneity assessed via I² statistic. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions explored variation sources. Risk factors were synthesized descriptively, though nulliparity and unplanned pregnancy allowed meta-analysis. RESULTS: From 67 included studies (n = 905,504 participants), the pooled prevalence of severe FoC was 16.5% (95% CI: 13.8-19.5%), with significant heterogeneity (I² = 99.45%). Assessment tools and cutoffs were major heterogeneity sources (p < 0.001), with prevalence ranging from 3.7% to 58.7%. Country of study was also a significant moderator (p < 0.001). Meta-regression showed no significant association with maternal age, gestational age, nulliparity percentage, or publication year. Key risk factors included previous traumatic birth, anxiety/depression symptoms, and inadequate social support. Nulliparous women had higher odds of severe FoC (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04-1.76), as did those with unplanned pregnancy (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.29-2.65). CONCLUSION: Severe FoC affects approximately one in six women globally. The substantial heterogeneity, largely due to methodological variations, underscores the need for standardized assessment protocols. Identified associations with factors such as previous traumatic birth and anxiety highlight the condition's multifactorial nature, emphasizing the importance of targeted screening and evidence-based interventions aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 to improve maternal mental health.
The Family Planning Belief Index (FPBI) as a measure to refurbish contraceptive counselling: evidence from Rural Odisha, India.
Kar S, Samantaray PC
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41345275 · Full text
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Turkısh women's experıences of early and forced marrıage: a meta-synthesıs study.
Dolkun B, Küçükkaya M, Boyacıoğlu NE
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41207918 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of early or forced marriage among women in Türkiye is 24.2%. The limited knowledge of family planning among these young women leads to higher rates of unintended pregnancies, postnatal depressi...
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of early or forced marriage among women in Türkiye is 24.2%. The limited knowledge of family planning among these young women leads to higher rates of unintended pregnancies, postnatal depression, frequent and early pregnancies, as well as an increase in health-compromising miscarriages and curettages, which collectively contribute to elevated maternal and child mortality rates. AIM: The study seeks to construct a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the marital experiences of women in Türkiye who were married at a young age or against their will. By synthesizing descriptive findings from qualitative studies, the research aims to develop analytical themes illuminating the multifaceted dimensions of these experiences. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. Meta-ethnography, one of the meta-synthesis methods, was used. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search was conducted across six databases: Google Scholar, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and YÖK Thesis. Only studies conducted in Türkiye and published in English or Turkish were included in the study. Men and minority groups (immigrant, LGBTQI+, etc.) were not included in the study. The year of marriage or participant age was not limited to obtain comprehensive results. REVIEW METHODS: Reporting of the different phases of the literature search followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) for qualitative research. We used thematic synthesis to analyse and synthesise the evidence, and we used the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) approach to assess our confidence in each finding. RESULTS: The overarching theme, "Turkish women's experiences of early and forced marriage," is subdivided into three analytical themes: factors driving early marriage, consequences of early marriage, and coping mechanisms and preventive measures. A comprehensive search was conducted in six electronic databases for qualitative studies published up to 2024, with no publication date limitation. A total of 67,745 articles were identified through the database search. As a result of the screening, 528 abstracts and 236 full texts were screened, and finally, 28 articles were included in the meta-synthesis process. CONCLUSIONS: Women subjected to early marriages report enduring physical, psychological, and sexual abuse inflicted by their spouses and in-laws. These women also report encountering significant challenges during pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, and motherhood. This study underscores the need for considering the intricate connections among causes, consequences, and coping mechanisms within the marriage process to prevent early and forced marriages effectively.
Prenatal attachment interventions: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.
Coté JJ, Dilsaver DB, Dimmock J … +8 more , Doehrman P, Teague S, Coté RD, Coté BP, Kilzer R, Sabbaghi MO, Borelli JL, Massey SH
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41205071 · Full text
PURPOSE: Amidst a rapidly growing worldwide literature on non-invasive interventions to optimize parent-child relationships prenatally, the effectiveness of prenatal attachment intervention remains uncertain due to metho...
PURPOSE: Amidst a rapidly growing worldwide literature on non-invasive interventions to optimize parent-child relationships prenatally, the effectiveness of prenatal attachment intervention remains uncertain due to methodologic restrictions of prior systematic reviews. The current systematic review was aimed at capturing the diversity of study designs, intervention targets and methods employed reflective of this burgeoning literature. We then employed meta-regression to evaluate the impact of expected heterogeneity on estimated intervention effects. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, PsychINFO, Trip database, and Google Scholar for empirical prenatal attachment intervention studies published through August 11, 2025, with titles and abstracts written in English. Articles with main texts written in other languages were translated prior to analysis (PROSPERO ID CRD42021241199). RESULTS: Prenatal attachment scores increased following intervention when examining all studies (p < . 001), randomized controlled trials only (p < .001), and studies of only male expectant parents (p = .017). Specific intervention methods found to be effective were touch and Leopold's maneuver (p = .004), fetal movement counting (p < .001), music, lullaby and singing (p = .012), relaxation techniques (p = .014), cognitive therapies (p = .022), meditation (p = .003), breathing exercises (p = .001), and educational interventions (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: While the prior systematic reviews of prenatal attachment interventions involving a total of 15 randomized controlled trials suggested equivocal effects of prenatal intervention, evidence from the current more inclusive review of non-randomized control trial (RCT) studies testing a wide range of intervention methods was substantially more compelling. More research on prenatal attachment in non-pregnant expectant partners and other caregivers and on promising but understudied interventions involving music and 3D fetal ultrasound images is recommended.
Understanding the nature of interpersonal relationships through the interpretations of young female cannabis users in Iran.
Armanisadr N, Bijari AF, Khosravi Z
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41205070 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Cannabis use has increased markedly in Iran, emerging as the second most commonly consumed illicit substance, with a notable rise among women. Interpersonal relationships play a critical role in shaping behavior...
PURPOSE: Cannabis use has increased markedly in Iran, emerging as the second most commonly consumed illicit substance, with a notable rise among women. Interpersonal relationships play a critical role in shaping behaviors and patterns of substance use. This study examines how young women who use cannabis interpret their interpersonal relationships. METHODS: A thematic narrative analysis was conducted in Karaj and Tehran from 2022 to 2023. Twelve young women who use cannabis were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Interview data were analyzed using open coding and thematic analysis to identify key relational dynamics related to cannabis use. RESULTS: A total of 961 open codes were generated and organized into two overarching themes. The first theme, "A Triad of Dysfunctional Interpersonal Relationships-Father, Mother, and Child,", comprising 447 codes, illustrated how maladaptive familial interactions contributed to the initiation and persistence of cannabis use. The second theme, "Positive and Negative Qualities of Interpersonal Relationships Across Childhood, Adolescence, and Early Adulthood,", encompassed 514 codes and five subthemes. While some participants reported receiving emotional support from peers or family members, the prevailing narrative involved experiences of emotional neglect, parent-child conflict, and the absence of secure attachment figures. These relational challenges were frequently cited as key drivers of the initiation and persistence of cannabis use, employed as a coping mechanism in response to unresolved emotional needs and relational distress. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that early experiences of family dysfunction and unresolved relational trauma substantially shape patterns of cannabis use among young women in Iran. Preventive strategies should include parent-focused educational interventions on emotional communication, family cohesion, and support structures. Additionally, increased access to psychosocial support and counseling services for young women is essential to mitigate risk and address underlying relational vulnerabilities.
Multimodal large language models for women's reproductive mental health.
AlSaad R, Youssef A, Kashani S … +5 more , AlAbdulla M, Abd-Alrazaq A, Khaled SM, Ahmed A, Sheikh J
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41148324 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Women's risk of mental health conditions fluctuates across the lifespan with hormone-mediated reproductive transitions. Reproductive psychiatry, a relatively new subspecialty, focuses on preventing and treati...
BACKGROUND: Women's risk of mental health conditions fluctuates across the lifespan with hormone-mediated reproductive transitions. Reproductive psychiatry, a relatively new subspecialty, focuses on preventing and treating these conditions throughout various reproductive stages. Multimodal large language models (MLLMs) are advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can process and integrate information across multiple modalities, including text, images, audio, and video. Although MLLMs have shown broad utility in healthcare, their potential in reproductive psychiatry remains largely unexplored. OBJECTIVE: To explore how MLLMs could advance research and clinical care in women's reproductive mental health and to outline opportunities, requirements, and barriers for safe, equitable deployment. METHODS: This perspective synthesizes the literature and domain expertise using a consistent analytical framework applied to each application domain in women's reproductive mental health: (1) define gaps in current clinical knowledge and practice; (2) explain why prevailing AI methods are insufficient; and (3) specify the distinctive advantages of MLLMs, including example data modalities and use cases relevant to reproductive psychiatry. FINDINGS: We identify seven application domains: (1) menstruation, (2) pregnancy, (3) abortion, miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss, (4) the postpartum period, (5) menopause, (6) psychiatric comorbidities in infertility, and (7) gynecologic conditions (e.g., endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome). Across these domains, MLLMs could enable multimodal risk stratification, longitudinal symptom trajectory modelling, clinical decision support, and patient-tailored education and self-management resources that adapt to evolving reproductive stages. Realizing these benefits requires addressing bias in training corpora; safeguarding privacy and consent for sensitive reproductive data; ensuring consistent, high-quality longitudinal data collection across life stages; and establishing standardized, well-governed multimodal repositories specific to women's health. CONCLUSIONS: MLLMs hold promise to foster more personalized and precise care in reproductive psychiatry. By mapping opportunities and constraints and proposing a structured evaluation lens, this perspective aims to inform clinicians and researchers, stimulate cross-disciplinary dialogue, and guide responsible development and integration of MLLMs in women's mental health.
Partner military deployment during wartime is associated with maternal depression and impaired maternal-infant attachment: a matched-control study from the Israel-Hamas war.
Allouche-Kam H, Chan SJ, Arora IH … +4 more , Pham CT, Reuveni I, Sheiner E, Dekel S
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41139741 · Full text
PURPOSE: The pregnancy and postpartum periods represent a time of heightened psychological vulnerability with implications for the offspring. Knowledge of the mental health of perinatal women exposed to armed conflict wh...
PURPOSE: The pregnancy and postpartum periods represent a time of heightened psychological vulnerability with implications for the offspring. Knowledge of the mental health of perinatal women exposed to armed conflict when their partner is in military deployment is scarce. METHODS: This matched-control, survey-based study included a sample of 429 women recruited during the first months of the Israel-Hamas War who were pregnant or within six months postpartum. Women who had a partner in military deployment were matched primarily on demographics, prior mental health, and trauma exposure to women whose partner was no longer deployed. RESULTS: We found that nearly 44% of pregnant women with a partner deployed endorsed probable depression. This group was more than twice as likely to endorse probable depression than matched pregnant controls. Likewise, postpartum women with a partner deployed reported significantly more maternal-infant attachment problems than the matched postpartum group of partners not deployed. Importantly, analysis showed that partner's active deployment was related to maternal depression and attachment problems via reduced perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS: Partner military deployment during conditions of war can serve as a major psychological stressor for pregnant and postpartum women. It can heighten psychiatric morbidity and interfere with attachment to the infant in part by diminished social support. Implementation of community-based services for the peripartum population is crucial during times of war and other large-scale traumas.
The effect of Tibolone treatment on depression, anxiety and mood in women: a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Dong L, Wang YG, Zhang M … +5 more , Hu M, Yuan Q, Cheng X, Prabahar K, Wang G
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41123650 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders are common in women. Tibolone, acting as both estrogen and progestin, has shown conflicting effects in hormone therapy. This first meta-analysis of RCTs assesse...
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders are common in women. Tibolone, acting as both estrogen and progestin, has shown conflicting effects in hormone therapy. This first meta-analysis of RCTs assesses Tibolone's impact on these conditions in women. METHODS: Two reviewers independently searched Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Embase up to 22 May 2024. Using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model, weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool, and evidence certainty was rated using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Eight articles were included in the meta-analysis. Tibolone significantly reduced depression scores (WMD = -5.335, 95% CI: -9.144 to -1.525, p = 0.006), with high heterogeneity (I² = 99.8%). Greater effects were observed in trials ≤6 months. Anxiety (WMD =-1.489, CI: -3.271 to 0.294, p = 0.102, I² = 99.1%) and mood (WMD = -0.719, CI:-1.805 to 0.366, p = 0.194, I² = 76.6%) scores showed non-significant reductions. CONCLUSION: Tibolone significantly improved depressive symptoms in women, with non-significant trends in anxiety and mood. However, due to high heterogeneity, risk of bias in some studies, and limited number of trials for anxiety and mood outcomes, findings should be interpreted with caution.
Maternal and offspring outcomes associated with prescribed ADHD medication in pregnancy: a systematic review.
Tai S, Patel S, Downes K … +2 more , Rogers J, Chu-Han Huang H
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41083615 · Full text
PURPOSE: During pregnancy, it is unclear whether women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should stop prescribed medication - risking relapse - or continue - risking harm to themselves and their baby. W...
PURPOSE: During pregnancy, it is unclear whether women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should stop prescribed medication - risking relapse - or continue - risking harm to themselves and their baby. We aimed to conduct a systematic review to examine whether ADHD medications should be continued during pregnancy. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, AMED, CENTRAL, Cochrane Library, NHS Knowledge and Library Hub from 1st July 2019 to 1st July 2024, without any restrictions on language, setting, or study type. We supplemented this with relevant studies identified from the references of retrieved studies. Two authors used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to independently rate the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Twelve cohort studies were included in the qualitative review. All were deemed high quality (NOS ≥ 7). Seven studies found ADHD medication use during pregnancy had no significant negative effect on maternal or offspring outcomes. One study found continuing ADHD medication reduced the risk of various negative outcomes, and another found stopping ADHD medication may increase the risk of threatened abortion. Three studies concluded that ADHD medication use was associated with negative outcomes: pre-eclampsia, gastroschisis, omphalocele, and transverse limb deficiency. Modafinil was identified as significantly increasing the risk of congenital malformations. CONCLUSION: Women taking modafinil should consider stopping it prior to pregnancy. Clinicians should discuss the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of other ADHD medications with women who are pregnant, or considering pregnancy, keeping in mind that the benefits of continuing ADHD medications- where it is effective for an individual- are likely to outweigh the risks.
Perinatal relapse or recurrence rates in women reporting preconception anxiety and/or depression: a longitudinal study using linked data.
Rae C, Leigh L, Holliday E … +1 more , Chojenta C
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41083614 · Full text
PURPOSE: Few robust estimates of perinatal anxiety and/or depression in women who experienced anxiety and/or depression before pregnancy have been reported in the literature. This study calculated rates of perinatal anxi...
PURPOSE: Few robust estimates of perinatal anxiety and/or depression in women who experienced anxiety and/or depression before pregnancy have been reported in the literature. This study calculated rates of perinatal anxiety and depression in women with a history of the disorders using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, the Australian Government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the Medicare Benefits Schedule. METHODS: The analysis included two cohorts of Australian women. The first comprised 14,247 women born between 1973 and 1978 with nine waves of data collected from 1996 to 2018. The second cohort included 17,010 women born between 1989 and 1995 with data collected from six waves between 2013 and 2019. The proportion of women who reported anxiety and/or depression before having a child and who then reported anxiety and/or depression perinatally (i.e. relapse/recurrence) was calculated for first births and for any birth. RESULTS: Compared to women who did not report preconception anxiety or depression, rates of perinatal anxiety and depression were higher among women reporting either condition pre-conceptually. For women in the 1973-78 cohort, the rate of perinatal anxiety was 24% (vs. 7%) and the rate of perinatal depression was 26% (vs. 10%). In the 1989-95 cohort, the rate of perinatal anxiety was 43% for women with preconception anxiety (vs. 18%) and the rate of perinatal depression was 41% for women with preconception depression (vs. 12%). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high rates of perinatal relapse or recurrence in women with preconception anxiety and/or depression, as well as the well-established risks to the health and development of their offspring, supporting these women to remain asymptomatic during the perinatal period is a priority.
Association between suicidal behaviour in pregnant women and pregnancy and fetal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Sukhadeve M, Khan FF, Ramasamy N … +4 more , Dani AP, Sahoo S, Dixit P, Gandhi AP
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41068307 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Suicidal behavior during pregnancy, including ideation, planning, and attempts, represents a significant but under-researched public health concern linked to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes such as preterm l...
PURPOSE: Suicidal behavior during pregnancy, including ideation, planning, and attempts, represents a significant but under-researched public health concern linked to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes such as preterm labor, low birth weight, and stillbirth. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) aimed to synthesize evidence on the association between suicidal behavior during pregnancy and feto-maternal outcomes, addressing existing gaps in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SRMA, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, included observational studies that reported maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women exhibiting suicidal behaviour (suicidal ideation, planning, or attempts). Four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were searched up to April 30, 2025, and 18 studies were included. Risk of bias assessment was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were analysed using random-effects models to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: From the 18 studies included for the SRMA, a total of 30749705 participants were analysed, with 6557 in the suicidal behaviour group. Suicidal behaviour significantly increased the risk of preterm labor (RR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.7-1.86), preterm birth (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26-1.55), fetal anomaly (RR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22-2.77) and Low Birth Weight (RR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.67-2.02), with no heterogeneity observed (I² = 0%). Stillbirth risk was markedly elevated (RR = 11.92, 95% CI: 10.32-13.77). Other outcomes, such as placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhage, also demonstrated increased risks. All the outcomes had a low to very low certainty of evidence. CONCLUSION: Suicidal behaviour during pregnancy poses significant risks to maternal and fetal health, emphasizing the need for early identification and interventions. Addressing maternal mental health must be prioritized in prenatal care to improve outcomes for both mother and child. Others: The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024539860).
Antenatal and postpartum depression among women who conceived after pregnancy loss: a longitudinal study.
Ito Y, Sasaki N, Tezuka K … +2 more , Imamura K, Nishi D
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41065779 · Full text
PURPOSE: Although the relationship between previous pregnancy loss and perinatal depression has been explored, most previous research has been cross-sectional and has not utilized diagnostic evaluation techniques. This s...
PURPOSE: Although the relationship between previous pregnancy loss and perinatal depression has been explored, most previous research has been cross-sectional and has not utilized diagnostic evaluation techniques. This study longitudinally examined the relationship using the self-administered web-based World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. METHODS: This study used data from a control group of pregnant women in a randomized controlled trial conducted between November 2019 and March 2020. An accelerated failure time model with Weibull distribution was conducted to evaluate the impact of previous pregnancy loss by number (never, once, and two or more times) on the onset of perinatal depression from 18 ± 2 weeks (baseline) to 3 months postpartum. RESULTS: The final analysis included 2,347 participants. The risk of developing perinatal depression was significantly higher for those with two or more previous pregnancy losses compared to those with no previous pregnancy loss (adjusted models: time ratio 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.86, p = 0.033). No statistically significant difference was found between those with one pregnancy loss and those with no previous pregnancy loss (adjusted models: time ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-4.04, p = 0.990). CONCLUSION: Women who experienced repeated pregnancy loss had an elevated risk of diagnosable perinatal depression. Thus, it is crucial to consider interventions targeting pregnant women who have experienced repeated pregnancy loss to prevent perinatal depression.
Influence of sex and school education on adolescents' mental health status in China: a prospective longitudinal study.
Xiu M, Yang K, Wen L … +1 more , Qu M
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41032112 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Although sex differences in mental health have been recognized, there is no conclusive evidence on the interactive effects of school setting and sex on adolescent mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to...
BACKGROUND: Although sex differences in mental health have been recognized, there is no conclusive evidence on the interactive effects of school setting and sex on adolescent mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate sex differences in depression and anxiety in adolescents in school and home settings and to explore possible related factors based on a follow-up study. METHODS: This study was designed for two rounds of surveys, with a two-month interval between each round. The first round of survey was conducted from November 22, 2019 to January 4, 2020 and the second round was from March 21, 2020 to March 31, 2020. 14,241 participants were recruited at school (T1) in the first round and 10,768 at home (T2) in the second round. Adolescents completed surveys at T1 and T2, including the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Logistic regression was performed to assess the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs between outcomes and related factors in boys and girls. FINDINGS: We found that girls had higher proportions of depression and anxiety symptoms than boys both in T1 and T2, although the rates of depression and anxiety decreased in girls and boys in T2 compared to T1 (both P < 0.0001) (depression: 33% vs. 46.16% for boys and 42.82% vs. 57.15% for girls; anxiety: 19.37% vs. 34.79% for boys and 27.49% vs. 42.47% for girls). The Breslow-Day test indicated that the rate of anxiety symptoms decreased more significantly from T1 to T2 in boys than in girls (OR = 0.450, 95% CI: 0.414-0.490, P = 0.0272). Further multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that high resilience scores and good parent-child relationships were protective factors in the school setting, while emotional, physical, and sexual abuse experiences were all risk factors for depression and anxiety in both girls and boys. Notably, in the school setting, parental divorce was a risk factor for depressive symptoms in boys, having a sibling increased the risk of anxiety symptoms in boys. At the same time, experiences of emotional neglect were only a risk factor for depressive symptoms in girls, and experiences of physical neglect contributed to anxiety symptoms in girls. INTERPRETATION: There were sex differences in mental health status at school and at home. Girls consistently reported higher levels of depression and anxiety than boys. In addition, boys were more likely to recover from anxiety than girls when school closure and stay-at-home. HIGHLIGHT: >Given sex differences in school academic stress, we assessed whether there are differences in depression and anxiety diagnoses among adolescents. >Girls had higher proportions of depression and anxiety symptoms than boys both in school and at home. >The rate of anxiety symptoms decreased more significantly from in-school to at-home in boys compared to girls. >In the school setting, for boys, parental divorce and having siblings were risk factors for mental disorders, while for girls, experiences of emotional neglect and experiences of physical neglect were risk factors for mental disorders.
Oral contraceptive treatment improves cognitive performance in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients.
Kumari S, Manna S, Marwah S … +2 more , Ahluwalia H, Panwar S
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 41016921 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are commonly used for the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, the therapeutic effects of OCs on cognitive function have not been explored extensively. This study a...
PURPOSE: Oral contraceptives (OCs) are commonly used for the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, the therapeutic effects of OCs on cognitive function have not been explored extensively. This study aimed to determine the changes in cognitive function in PCOS patients treated with three cycles of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing estrogen and progesterone. METHODS: Drug-naive PCOS patients (N = 35), aged 18-35 years, were evaluated at baseline and three months after treatment with COC containing levonorgestrel (0.15 mg) plus ethinyl estradiol (30 µg). Working memory (WM), attention, and executive function domains of cognition were assessed using the auditory and visual digit span test (DST), continuous performance test-identical pair (CPT-IP), and trail-making test (TMT), respectively. RESULTS: The DST results showed improvements in the maximal digit span (ML) of the auditory (p = 0.0039) and visual (p = 0.0005) WM tasks after treatment. Improvements were also observed in the mean span (MS) of the auditory (Cohen's d = 0.94, p = 0.0009) and visual (Cohen's d = 0.90, p < 0.0001) DST after treatment. In CPT-IP test, the mean reaction time (RT) of hit rate (Cohen's d = 0.64, p = 0.01) and random errors (Cohen's d = 0.64, p = 0.01) showed a significant decrease after treatment. After treatment, TMT showed a significant decrease in all parameters, except trail 1 errors (p = 0.1079). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that three months of COCs treatment in PCOS patients improves cognitive performance in the domains of WM, attention, and executive function. However, the lack of a control group and short follow-up period limits the strength of our findings.
Postpartum maternal sleep disruption is associated with perception of infant temperament: findings from a 6-month longitudinal study.
Cox RC, Okun ML
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 40993443 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Infant temperament is influenced by environmental factors, such as maternal depression and anxiety. However, the association between maternal sleep and infant temperament is unclear. We examined the associations...
PURPOSE: Infant temperament is influenced by environmental factors, such as maternal depression and anxiety. However, the association between maternal sleep and infant temperament is unclear. We examined the associations between maternal postpartum sleep and maternal perception of infant temperament and the moderating effect of maternal depression and anxiety over 6 months following delivery. METHODS: Postpartum women with a history of depression (N = 166) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, and Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form once per month for 6 months post-delivery. Associations between maternal sleep and infant temperament and interactions with maternal anxiety and depression were tested via 2-level multilevel models. RESULTS: At the month-level, shorter sleep duration and greater sleep disturbance were significantly associated with higher infant negative affectivity, and shorter sleep duration, greater sleep disturbance, and lower sleep efficiency were associated with significantly lower infant orienting/regulation (p's < 0.05). At the person-level, lower sleep efficiency and greater sleep disturbance were significantly associated with higher infant negative affectivity (p's < 0.05). Both person-level effects were significantly moderated by depression symptoms, whereas only the effect of sleep efficiency was moderated by anxiety symptoms (p's < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal perception of infant orienting/regulation may be sensitive to acute sleep disruption, whereas maternal perception of infant negative affectivity is linked both acute and trait-like maternal sleep disruption. Lower depression symptoms may buffer trait-like effects of maternal sleep disruption on perception of infant negative affectivity, whereas higher anxiety symptoms may be sensitizing. These findings highlight the importance of maternal sleep health for infant outcomes.
A framework for collaborative patient decision-making around the treatment of depression in pregnancy and essential next steps for research.
Vigod SN
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 40976807 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Effects of a Personalized Stress Management Intervention on Maternal Mental Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Tandon SD, Moskowitz JT, Edwards RC … +13 more , Zhang Y, Giase G, Sinche B, Blum AL, Krislov S, Reynolds HM, Rangarajan A, Cummings P, Petitclerc A, Alshurafa N, Grobman WA, Ward EA, Wakschlag LS
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Dec · PMID 40960524 · Full text
PURPOSE: While interventions to mitigate and prevent perinatal maternal distress exist, none are personalized based on participants' daily experiences and intervention response. This study compared maternal distress outc...
PURPOSE: While interventions to mitigate and prevent perinatal maternal distress exist, none are personalized based on participants' daily experiences and intervention response. This study compared maternal distress outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, perceived stress) between perinatal individuals receiving a personalized mobile health-enhanced cognitive-behavioral intervention and individuals receiving usual prenatal care. METHODS: Pregnant individuals ≤ 22 weeks' gestation recruited from six prenatal care clinics were randomized to the intervention or usual prenatal care. Intervention participants received a 12-session adaptation of the Mothers and Babies intervention (MB-P), personalized by just-in-time stress reduction and mindfulness content based on elevated physiologic or self-reported stress. Primary outcomes were depressive and anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress. Secondary outcomes were behavioral activation, decentering of thoughts, social support, and mood regulation. Outcomes were measured at baseline, one-week post-intervention, one month postpartum, and three months postpartum. An intent-to-treat approach using mixed-effects models guided analysis. RESULTS: Forty-nine individuals were randomized to MB-P and fifty-one to usual prenatal care. Participants were 70% White, 33.7 years old on average, and 16.2 weeks gestation. At three months postpartum, intervention participants had lower depressive symptomatology (d = 0.43) and less perceived stress (d = 0.46) than controls. Intervention participants exhibited greater behavioral activation three months postpartum (d = 0.41), greater decentering post-intervention (d = 0.37), and greater mood regulation post-intervention (d = 0.56) and three months postpartum (d = 0.55). CONCLUSION: MB-P improved maternal depression and anxiety and mechanisms of behavioral activation, decentering, and mood regulation when compared to usual prenatal care. Future research should examine MB-P impact compared to standard MB without just-in-time content. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov, NCT05052281.
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