Understanding and Treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)

The term “perinatal” encompasses all aspects related to bearing children, including pregnancy, the year following the birth of a child, and sometimes even the journey to conceive, all of which can bring about stress and complications that may contribute to mood and anxiety disorders. Perinatal depression, the more well-known of the perinatal mental health disorders, affects one in five women during pregnancy and one in seven women postpartum; however, over 50% of women on antidepressants are still symptomatic due to suboptimal treatment.

Less well-known perinatal mental health disorders include perinatal anxiety, OCD, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar, and psychosis. These conditions are often vastly misunderstood and not well represented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Also often unrecognized is the fact that perinatal mood and anxiety conditions can also affect men. Over 86% of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are undiagnosed, leaving families to suffer in silence due to disorders that are easily treatable.

In this 2-hour continuing education web conference, Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C will provide an overview of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). Megan will review symptoms, statistics, and risk factors for each diagnosis. She will also shed light on how these disorders often go undiagnosed or undertreated, and she will discuss proper interventions, demonstrating how treating perinatal disorders may look different compared to treating non-perinatal mental health disorders. She will give insight into how providers can better screen for these disorders and will introduce several resources for families impacted by PMADs.

This introductory instructional level web conference is designed to help clinicians:

1. Summarize the mental health disorders that can occur during and following pregnancy.
2. Recognize that perinatal mental health disorders are often overlooked, misdiagnosed and undertreated, even within the medical field.
3. Describe various symptoms and differentiate between perinatal mental health disorders, especially those that are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood.
4. Analyze the various factors that may contribute to or pose risk for perinatal mental health disorders
5. Explain how to best support clients who are experiencing perinatal mental health disorders.
6. Critique myths and concerns regarding the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
7. Compile information regarding proper referrals, support, and adjunctive services for families impacted by perinatal mental health disorders.

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: The contents of this program are based primarily on research and trainings conducted by Postpartum Support International and are meant to bring awareness to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Further training, consultation, or adjunctive services are advised when working with this population. For training opportunities and information on perinatal mental health provider certification please visit www.postpartum.net.

Declaration of conflicts of interest and commercial support: The presenter conducts trainings, provides clinical services, and has written articles related to the content of this program.

If you have any questions, please contact us here.

Reference:

1. Gunyon-Meyer, B., Cole, J., Tremayne, L, & Standeven, L. (2018). Perinatal mood disorders: Components of care [Training manual]. Retrieved from Postpartum Support International 2-Day Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Training.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within Counseling Services. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

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GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content. GoodTherapy.org received APA approval in May 2011. Events after 2011 may meet APA requirements for Continuing Education credits.

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To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

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Mental health professionals who are not members can access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

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