Spring Greetings to Everyone!  We have good news – the major public health impact of perinatal depression is being recognized far more than in the past!  A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December, 2006, showed that women have a high risk for new episodes of psychiatric illness even if they had never had mental health care in the past.

 Perinatal depression has been identified a major public health issue by Agency for Heathcare Research and Quality (Perinatal Depression:  Prevalence, Screening Accuracy and Screening Outcomes, www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/peridepsum.htm).  Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced the MOTHERS (Mom’s Opportunity To Access Help, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act to Congress.  The MOTHERS Act will ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with services. In addition, it will increase research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for postpartum depression.  Specifically, the MOTHERS Act will help by providing important education and screening on postpartum depression (PPD) that can lead to early identification and treatment.  This legislation incorporates a House bill, the Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, which expands and intensifies research at the NIH with respect to postpartum depression and psychosis, including increased discovery of treatments, diagnostic tools and educational materials.  The MOTHERS Act was introduced in response to a recently passed, first-of-its-kind New Jersey law that requires doctors and nurses to educate and screen expectant mothers about PPD. This state bill was introduced by State Senate President Richard Codey, whose wife, Mary Jo Codey, had PPD. 

Finally, we need your help!  We are not meeting our goals for entry of pregnant women with bipolar disorder into our NIMH-funded observational study, Antimanic Drug Use during Pregnancy (women do not have to be taking any medication despite the title!).  PLEASE tell any pregnant woman with bipolar disorder to contact us and take advantage of the careful evaluation and follow up for mother and baby!  The study team will:

·     provide expert consultation to the treating physician and patient 

·     gain much-needed information on pregnancy outcomes and infant development

·     assess women starting at 20 weeks pregnancy through one year after birth  

·     report the results of each assessment to the woman’s treating physician, or help the woman find treatment if she desires.    THANK YOU!