Updates to Interventions in Treatment of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

Mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and trauma, commonly affect individuals in the perinatal period. The purpose of this review is to update on current and new evidence-based treatments for common perinatal mental disorders, mainly depression and anxiety, in several different treatment modalities, both on an individual and systems level.

Treatment modalities include lifestyle interventions such as exercise, diet, sleep and mindfulness interventions, innovations in psychotherapy designed for a peripartum population, standard and novel pharmacologic agents, such as neuroactive steroids and modifications of therapies for treatment resistant depression. Treatment overall should include health systems interventions like peer support, telemedicine as needed, collaborative care models, and perinatal access programs that can help coordinate care to effectively treat perinatal mental illness.

Multiple new pharmacologic, therapeutic, lifestyle and health systems interventions are helpful at treating perinatal depression and anxiety. Individuals, clinicians, researchers and policy makers should be aware of, and consider incorporating, evidence-based interventions depending on the level of severity of disease and what is acceptable to the individual.