The risk for development of a mood or psychotic disorder is highest in females during their reproductive years. This results in a high likelihood that pregnancy and psychiatric illness will intersect. The risk of psychotic disorders is not substantially reduced by pregnancy and psychiatric management is necessary to maximize maternal wellness among women with these conditions. Non-psychotic mood and anxiety disorders may improve across pregnancy although many women still require non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment to stay well. Psychiatrists appreciate that the management of pregnant women with psychiatric illness entails “Treating for Two”, a moniker adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies. This presentation will review the prevalence of common psychiatric disorders in pregnancy, will discuss the longitudinal course of illness as well as management strategies for optimal care of pregnant women with psychiatric illness. Finally, the presentation will provide information on perinatal outcomes related to maternal psychiatric illness and to the pharmacological treatments that may be needed to provide optimal care for pregnant women.
**This content was captured at the 2020 APA OnDemand product and may reference information from various sources and terminology from previous editions of the DSM.
Learning Objectives
- Review the epidemiology of various psychiatric conditions in pregnant and non pregnant women.
- Discuss treatment options for pregnant women with various psychiatric conditions.
- Discuss the pros and cons of pharmacological management of psychiatric illness in pregnancy.
Target Audience
Psychiatrists, Residents/Fellows
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 75 minutes
Begin Date: December 1, 2021
End Date: December 31, 2024
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The APA designates this enduring CME activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
Program Presenters
- Kimberly Yonkers, M.D., Professor and Chair of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Yonkers discloses the following relationships: Author/Royalties: Section of Up to Date on PMS and PMDD.
Program Planners
- Tristan Gorrindo, M.D., Former Director of Education, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Katie Putnam, Membership Development Specialist, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Ally Brown, Associate Director, Online Learning, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance