APA Publishing Releases Definitive Guide to Women's Reproductive Mental Health

Jan 10, 2022

Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2022 — A woman’s mental health is punctuated by specific events during her natural biological cycle, but the importance of these events is often forgotten when clinicians review her psychiatric history. A new textbook from APA Publishing is the first comprehensive text for understanding, diagnosing, and supporting the unique mental health needs of women during their entire reproductive life cycle. Based on the award-winning National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry, the text collects the latest thinking, research, and real-world practice to provide a compendium on women's reproductive mental health and the mental illnesses that arise at times of reproductive transition.

The “Textbook of Women's Reproductive Mental Health” was edited by Lucy A. Hutner, M.D., Lisa A. Catapano, M.D., Ph.D., Sarah M. Nagle-Yang, M.D., Katherine E. Williams, M.D., and Lauren M. Osborne, M.D. Written for practitioners, researchers, and academics, the text provides an inclusive understanding of the mental, emotional, and behavioral disturbances related to female reproductive stages, including menstruation, pregnancy and the postpartum period, and perimenopause. It presents up-to-date information, case examples, and practical tools alongside data-supported guidance for treatment.

A thorough introduction to the physiology of the woman's reproductive life cycle is included, with focused chapters that dive deep into a full range of mental health conditions related to reproductive hormone transitions. Topics covered include:

• Sexual health and contraception
• Premenstrual mood disorders
• Psychiatric disorders and treatments during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and perimenopause
• The effects of stress during pregnancy and attachment
• Infertility, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and delivery of offspring with major health problems
• Managing psychiatric emergencies
• Prescribing commonly used drugs, including usage during pregnancy and lactation

Dr. Hutner remarked: "This was an all-volunteer effort from eighty authors at over thirty institutions who are deeply committed to providing evidence-based and comprehensive education in women's mental health across the lifespan for clinicians across all specialties.”

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.