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Concerns in Depression Treatment:
Sexual Dysfunction and Weight Gain
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Premature discontinuation of antidepressants is a prevalent and significant problem in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). When a patient discontinues an antidepressant without consulting the clinician, the possibility of full remission of an acute depressive episode is seriously compromised and risk for subsequent recurrent episodes is increased.
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5/26/2007
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Considerations in Women’s Mental Health: Depression During Pregnancy
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Significant hormonal changes occur with pregnancy, including sharp increases in levels of estradiol and progesterone. Increasing levels of serotonin (5-HT) may also be associated with the rise in estrogens. Significant stress is also associated with pregnancy. A significant stressor, such as depression, during pregnancy can impact the health of both the mother and the baby.
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11/2/2006
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Fibromyalgia, Depression, and the Menopausal Transition
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Fibromyalgia, depression, and the menopausal transition are commonly comorbid and extremely difficult to treat. Fibromyalgia typically occurs in women at the onset of the menopausal transition, a time during which depression may recur. Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain disorder manifested by widespread pain in various locations, hypersensitivity to pain on palpation, and associated symptoms of disturbed sleep, stiffness, fatigue, cognitive slowing, and psychological distress.1 Fibromyalgia affects women disproportionately, with estimates of lifetime prevalence of 3.4% for women and 0.5% for men.2
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10/19/2006
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Considerations in Women’s Mental Health: Women with Borderline Personality Disorder
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Many psychiatrists are familiar with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition,1 criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Still, it can be difficult to diagnose BPD because of the overlap of symptoms with mood disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other personality disorders.
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10/17/2006
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Considerations in Women’s Mental Health: Postpartum Mood Disorders
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The delivery of a healthy baby is a joyful event, yet many women experience labile, inappropriate, or depressed mood during the postpartum period. For these women, emotions at conflict with their external circumstances are disturbing and confusing. For some, the symptoms begin during pregnancy and worsen perinatally.
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10/17/2006
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Sexual Abuse and Mental Health Sequelae
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Sexual abuse in childhood is associated with higher rates of psychiatric
disorders, poorer outcomes of treatment, and revictimization as adults (Algorithm). Eliciting such a history may help the physician intervene to prevent further trauma and to direct treatment to the associated disorders.
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10/15/2006
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Mental Health Concerns with Infertility
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Infertility is a frequent problem in the United States today, affecting approximately 10% of the reproductive age population. Once recognized, the time available for successful intervention with infertility is limited, as many women are postponing motherhood until later in their reproductive years. Also, despite improvements in assisted reproductive technology, which can make pregnancy possible for approximately 50% of couples pursuing
treatment, depression, guilt, anxiety, relationship tension, and isolation are often present throughout the process. These and other psychological factors have been implicated both as possible causes of infertility and as a result of infertility, and can thus affect recommended interventions. The following is a discussion of psychological factors associated with infertility and possible treatment plans.
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10/14/2006
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Weight Issues in Schizophrenia
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Among individuals with schizophrenia, effects of both the disease and its treatment may contribute to weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and subsequent other impairments and functional limitations. This may be particularly true for women, as women with schizophrenia had a significantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) than women without schizophrenia.
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5/25/2006
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Menstrual Migraine
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Migraine and tension headaches are among the most commonly diagnosed conditions in women. Menstrual migraine has been somewhat difficult to diagnose and treat, as the definition requires tracking of a woman’s cycle, and the criteria are rather strict.
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3/23/2006
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Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Complementary and alternative medicine refers to pharmacologic and biological treatments, such as herbal therapies; dietary supplements; natural hormones; health and healing practices, such as hypnosis, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, exercise, chiropractic or massage therapy; and nontraditional medical systems, such as acupuncture. These modalities are utilized by many women in the United States.
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3/19/2006
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Outcomes in Breast Cancer: Disease and Treatment Effects on Mood and Sexual Functioning
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Breast cancer occurs in approximately 13% of adult women in the United States.
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3/14/2006
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Women and Dementia
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Women are more than twice as likely as men of a similar age to develop late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which has lead to the speculation that sex steroids may play a role in the pathophysiology of dementia.
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3/10/2006
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