Description:
Women and their families face unique issues during the perinatal period, which includes preconception planning, pregnancy, and early parenthood. Outcome research also shows that women with bipolar and psychotic mood disorder exacerbations during this period are challenging to treat and often receive sub-optimal care. In this workshop, Samantha Meltzer-Brody and Mary Kimmel draw from their research and clinical experience that emphasizes collaborative approaches to identifying and treating disorders that arise during this period. Participants will gain understanding of relevant issues and treatment considerations for working effectively with individuals with perinatal mood disorders, anxiety, and psychosis.
Trainers:
Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor and Director of the UNC Perinatal Psychiatry Program of the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders. Her current clinical and research efforts are focused primarily on Perinatal Depression. She is currently funded by multiple NIH grants to investigate epidemiologic, genetic, and other biomarker models of postpartum depression (PPD) and has recently worked to establish an international postpartum depression genetics consortium (PACT). In addition, she is investigating novel treatment options for depression in perinatal women.The Triangle Medical Journal recently selected Dr. Meltzer-Brody as one of the “Top 10 Women in Medicine.” She is also the founder of the Taking Care of Our Own Program, a resource for UNC Health Care employees.
Dr. Mary Kimmel, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Medical Director of UNC’s Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit. Her clinical expertise is in treating women’s mood and anxiety disorders and in treating psychiatric disorders and other mental health issues during pregnancy and the postpartum time period. Dr. Kimmel’s research interests include the study of hormonally-mediated mood and anxiety disorders, the connection of depression and/or anxiety and excessive weight gain during pregnancy and the postpartum time period, the transmission of stress and obesity from mother to child, and the connection between perinatal depression/anxiety and obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth and infant outcomes such as childhood obesity.
Clinical Lecture Series at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work