To investigate associations between maternal ethnicity and involuntary mother and baby unit (MBU) admission, adjusting for potential confounding variables. Data from electronic records in a Scottish MBU (July 2012 to January 2024) were analysed with logistic regression.

A total of 450 first admissions were analysed. The proportion of patients from Black, Asian, Mixed or other ethnic minorities who were admitted involuntarily (n = 8/48, 38%) was twice that of White British patients (n = 66/364, 18%) with White not British patients showing an intermediate proportion (n = 12/38, 32%). In the unadjusted model, being of Black, Asian, Mixed or other minority ethnicity was associated with involuntary admission (odds ratio 2.7, 95% CI 1.4–5.2; P = 0.002), as was being of White not British ethnicity (odds ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.0–4.3; P = 0.04997). Association were attenuated after adjustment for potential confounders, including psychosis.

We identified racial inequalities in a perinatal mental health setting. The drivers of these differences are likely multifactorial.

An increasing number of women of childbearing age are treated for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Limited evidence exists on risk of pregnancy loss associated with ADHD medication use in early pregnancy.

To assess whether ADHD medication use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of miscarriage.

We conducted a nationwide, register-based, case–control study, using linked Norwegian data from Medical Birth Registry of Norway, Norwegian Patient Registry, Norwegian Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements Database and Norwegian Prescription Database. Among pregnant women with ADHD, those with miscarriage (n = 2993 cases) were matched with up to four live births (n = 10 305 controls) by maternal age and year of conception. ADHD medication exposure during pregnancy was defined as any use (one or more filled prescriptions) and categorised into tertiles of total defined daily doses (DDDs) as a proxy for dose. The main outcome was miscarriage (pregnancy loss before 20 weeks). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for psychiatric comorbidities, psychotropic and teratogenic medications, and maternal age at conception.

Of 13 298 pregnancies, 1389 (10.5%) were exposed to ADHD medications. Any ADHD medication use was associated with increased miscarriage risk (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.41–1.83). Methylphenidate (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.35–1.79), lisdexamfetamine (aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.06–3.10) and atomoxetine (aOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.41–3.89) were associated with increased risks. Higher levels of medication exposure, categorised by DDD tertiles, were associated with increased odds of miscarriage, increasing from 1.14 (95% CI 0.91–1.42) for the lowest tertile to 2.11 (95% CI 1.71–2.60) for the highest.

ADHD medication use during pregnancy is associated with increased miscarriage risk. However, filled prescriptions may not reflect actual use. Further research is needed to clarify these associations and refine risk estimates.

While biomarkers are widely used in other medical fields, psychiatry has yet to introduce reliable biological diagnostic tools. Female reproductive transitions provide a unique window of opportunity for investigating psychiatric biomarkers. Hormonal changes across menstruation, pregnancy, parturition and perimenopause can have dramatic effects on mental health in vulnerable individuals, enabling the identification of unique biomarkers associated with these fluctuations.

This review integrates current evidence concerning potential biomarkers, with focus on recent human studies in perinatal depression, anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder, postpartum psychosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and perimenopausal depression.

We identified potential articles to be included in this narrative review by using PubMed to obtain articles in English since 2010 on the six conditions listed above, with the additional keywords of ‘biomarker’, ‘epigenetics’, ‘neuroactive steroid’, ‘immune’, ‘inflammatory’ and ‘neuroimaging’.

There is substantial published evidence regarding potential biomarkers of reproductive psychiatric disorders in the areas of epigenetics, neuroactive steroids, immune function and neuroimaging. This body of research holds significant potential to advance biomarker development, uncover disease mechanisms and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, but there is as yet no clinically useful biomarker in commercial development for any reproductive psychiatric disorder.

There is an urgent need for longitudinal, large-scale and multi-modal studies to examine potential biomarkers and better understand their functions across various stages of reproduction.

Exposure to maternal mental illness during foetal development may lead to altered development, resulting in permanent changes in offspring functioning.

To assess whether there is an association between prenatal maternal psychiatric disorders and offspring behavioural problems in early childhood, using linked health administrative data and the Australian Early Development Census from New South Wales, Australia.

The sample included all mother–child pairs of children who commenced full-time school in 2009 in New South Wales, and met the inclusion criteria (N = 69 165). Univariable logistic regression analysis assessed unadjusted associations between categories of maternal prenatal psychiatric disorders with indicators of offspring behavioural problems. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted the associations of interest for psychiatric categories and a priori selected covariates. Sensitivity analyses included adjusting the final model for primary psychiatric diagnoses and assessing association of interest for effect modification by child's biological gender.

Children exposed in the prenatal period to maternal psychiatric disorders had greater odds of being developmentally vulnerable in their first year of school. Children exposed to maternal anxiety disorders prenatally had the greatest odds for behavioural problems (adjusted odds ratio 1.98; 95% CI 1.43–2.69). A statistically significant interaction was found between child biological gender and prenatal hospital admissions for substance use disorders, for emotional subdomains, aggression and hyperactivity/inattention.

Children exposed to prenatal maternal mental illness had greater odds for behavioural problems, independent of postnatal exposure. Those exposed to prenatal maternal anxiety were at greatest risk, highlighting the need for targeted interventions for, and support of, families with mental illness.

There is no clear evidence about how to support people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) during the perinatal period. Perinatal emotional skills groups (ESGs) may be helpful, but their efficacy has not been tested.

To test the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of perinatal ESGs for women and birthing people with BPD.

Two-arm parallel-group feasibility RCT. We recruited people from two centres, aged over 18 years, meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for BPD, who were pregnant or within 12 months of a live birth. Eligible individuals were randomly allocated on a 1:1 ratio to ESGs + treatment as usual (TAU), or to TAU. Outcomes were assessed at 4 months post randomisation.

A total of 100% of the pre-specified sample (n = 48) was recruited over 6 months, and we obtained 4-month outcome data on 92% of randomised participants. In all, 54% of participants allocated to perinatal ESGs attended 75% of the full group treatment (median number of sessions: 9 (interquartile range 6–11). At 4 months, levels of BPD symptoms (adjusted coefficient −2.0, 95% CI −6.2 to 2.1) and emotional distress (−2.4, 95% CI −6.2 to 1.5) were lower among those allocated to perinatal ESGs. The directionality of effect on well-being and social functioning also favoured the intervention. The cost of delivering perinatal ESGs was estimated to be £918 per person.

Perinatal ESGs may represent an effective intervention for perinatal women and birthing people with BPD. Their efficacy should be tested in a fully powered RCT, and this is a feasible undertaking.

ISRCTN80470632.

Anxiety affects around one in five women during pregnancy and after birth. However, there is no systematic information on the proportion of women with perinatal anxiety disorders who want or receive treatment.

To examine (a) the prevalence of anxiety disorders during pregnancy and after birth in a population-based sample, and (b) the proportion of women with anxiety disorders who want treatment and receive treatment.

This study conducted 403 diagnostic interviews in early pregnancy (n = 102), mid-pregnancy (n = 99), late pregnancy (n = 102) or postpartum (n = 100). Participants also completed self-report measures of previous/current mental health problems and desire for treatment at every time point.

The prevalence of anxiety disorders over all time points combined was 19.9% (95% CI 16.1–24.1), with greatest prevalence in early pregnancy (25.5%, 95% CI 17.4–35.1). The most prevalent disorders were obsessive–compulsive disorder (8.2%, 95% CI 5.7–11.3) and generalised anxiety disorder (5.7%, 95% CI 3.7–8.4). The majority of women with anxiety disorders did not want professional help or treatment (79.8%). Most women with anxiety disorders who did want treatment (20.2%) were receiving treatment. The majority of participants with anxiety disorders had a history of mental health problems (64.6%).

Prevalence rates overall are consistent with previous research, lending validity to the findings. However, findings challenge the assumption that everyone with a psychological disorder wants treatment. These findings highlight the importance of relationship-based care, where individual needs and contextual barriers to treatment can be explored.

Broad-spectrum micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) have shown benefit for treatment of depressive symptoms.

To determine whether additional micronutrients reduce symptoms of antenatal depression.

Eighty-eight medication-free pregnant women at 12–24 weeks gestation, who scored ≥13 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), were randomised 1:1 to micronutrients or active placebo (containing iodine and riboflavin), for 12 weeks. Micronutrient doses were generally between recommended dietary allowance and tolerable upper level. Primary outcomes (EPDS and Clinical Global Impression – Improvement Scale (CGI-I)) were analysed with constrained longitudinal data analysis.

Seventeen (19%) women dropped out, with no group differences, and four (4.5%) gave birth before trial completion. Both groups improved on the EPDS, with no group differences (P = 0.1018); 77.3% taking micronutrients and 72.7% taking placebos were considered recovered. However, the micronutrient group demonstrated significantly greater improvement, based on CGI-I clinician ratings, over time (P = 0.0196). The micronutrient group had significantly greater improvement on sleep and global assessment of functioning, and were more likely to identify themselves as ‘much’ to ‘very much’ improved (68.8%) compared with placebo (38.5%) (odds ratio 3.52, P = 0.011; number needed to treat: 3). There were no significant group differences on treatment-emergent adverse events, including suicidal ideation. Homocysteine decreased significantly more in the micronutrient group. Presence of personality difficulties, history of psychiatric medication use and higher social support tended to increase micronutrient response compared with placebo.

This study highlights the benefits of active monitoring on antenatal depression, with added efficacy for overall functioning when taking micronutrients, with no evidence of harm. Trial replication with larger samples and clinically diagnosed depression are needed.

Anxiety in pregnancy and after giving birth (the perinatal period) is highly prevalent but under-recognised. Robust methods of assessing perinatal anxiety are essential for services to identify and treat women appropriately.

To determine which assessment measures are most psychometrically robust and effective at identifying women with perinatal anxiety (primary objective) and depression (secondary objective).

We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2243 women who completed five measures of anxiety and depression (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD) two- and seven-item versions; Whooley questions; Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10); and Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale (SAAS)) during pregnancy (15 weeks, 22 weeks and 31 weeks) and after birth (6 weeks). To assess diagnostic accuracy a sample of 403 participants completed modules of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

The best diagnostic accuracy for anxiety was shown by the CORE-10 and SAAS. The best diagnostic accuracy for depression was shown by the CORE-10, SAAS and Whooley questions, although the SAAS had lower specificity. The same cut-off scores for each measure were optimal for identifying anxiety or depression (SAAS ≥9; CORE-10 ≥9; Whooley ≥1). All measures were psychometrically robust, with good internal consistency, convergent validity and unidimensional factor structure.

This study identified robust and effective methods of assessing perinatal anxiety and depression. We recommend using the CORE-10 or SAAS to assess perinatal anxiety and the CORE-10 or Whooley questions to assess depression. The GAD-2 and GAD-7 did not perform as well as other measures and optimal cut-offs were lower than currently recommended.