McMaster researcher co-develops guidelines for treating mood, anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum

New clinical practice guidelines, co-created by McMaster University professor Benicio Frey, will focus specifically on the diagnosis and treatment of mood, anxiety, and related disorders during pregnancy and postpartum.

Published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders recognize perinatal mental health as a public health priority, and will support clinicians around the world to improve early identification and provide treatment recommendations across the entire patient journey.

“Depression, anxiety and related issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder are some of the most common complications of pregnancy and postpartum, the perinatal period. Until now, health-care practitioners in our country have not had clear guidance on how best to deliver mental health care for perinatal mood, anxiety and related disorders,” says Frey, professor with McMaster’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences.

Mental health issues are some of the most common conditions that come up in pregnancy and postpartum. One in five people will experience a perinatal mood, anxiety, and related disorder (PMAD), with many reluctant to report symptoms due to shame or fear. If left unaddressed, these disorders can affect the health and well-being of parents, their children and their families. By seeking help early, individuals can better manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being.

“We hope that this new clinical guideline, developed by a large group of Canadian health professionals with direct input from Canadians with lived experience of perinatal mental illness, will lead to a high-quality standard of care for all,” says project co-lead Simone Vigod, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and head of the Department of Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital.

Accompanying the guidelines is a complementary resource, “Seeds of Hope: A Patient and Family Guide,” to empower individuals and their support networks with accessible, practical information about perinatal mental health.

“The resources published today provide a great starting point to understanding what kind of help is available, and empowers health-care providers and their patients to make informed, evidence-based decisions about how to effectively manage and treat perinatal mood disorders, in ways that promote well-being and are safe for the parent and baby,” says  Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Ya’ara Saks.

Health Canada provided $372,000 to Women’s College Hospital to develop the clinical practice guideline for perinatal mood disorders.

The guideline and patient guide are based on a thorough review of systematic studies and prioritize high-quality research aiming to serve as a valuable tool for clinicians not only in Canada, but around the world to help optimize clinical outcomes in the area of perinatal mental health.