Women's Mental Health Archives

Schizophrenia in Women – Role of Estrogen and Novel Treatments

February 26, 2018

Prof Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, discusses the unique aspects of schizophrenia in women. Estrogen is a gonadal hormone that can exert powerful effects in numerous regions of the brain, consequently affecting mood, cognition, and behaviour. We…

Is the Oral Contraceptive Pill Associated with Depression?- A Synopsis of The Impact of OC Pills on Mood

August 23, 2017

At present, the most common hormonal contraceptive is the combination oral contraceptive (COC), which has an estrogen and a progestin component to it. Modern COCs contain much lower levels of estrogen, and progestin, and are typically deemed to have little effect on the physical and…

The Impact of Maternal Stress on the Fetal Brain – A Summary of Key Mechanisms

July 29, 2017

There are many ways that maternal stress has been hypothesized to affect fetal development during each of the critical phases of pregnancy. This review outlines the role of these mediators, how they are induced and the effect they can have on the offspring. There are…

Hormones and Mental Illness in Women – PMDD / Depression and the Pill / Perimenopausal Depression

May 18, 2017

Prof Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre discusses specific psychiatric illnesses that are hormone related. PMS PMDD Perimenopausal Depression / Late onset Borderline Psychosis Relapse Depression and the Pill The contraceptive pill has allowed women to live selected…

Impact of Nutritional Deficiencies in the Pre and Post Natal Period on Child Brain Development – Prof Jacka

April 7, 2017

Professor Felice Jacka is the Director of the Food and Mood Centre within the Deakin University School of Medicine in Geelong. She is also an honorary Principal Research Fellow with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, The Centre for Adolescent Health at…

Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy is Linked to Autism

January 27, 2017

Vitamin D levels during gestation In this study, 4229 mothers were included with approximately 70% of Dutch origin and the other 30% coming from non-Dutch ethnic groups. Mothers at intake were recorded as having an age between 25 and 35 (n=2995) and a BMI of…

Prof Jayashri Kulkarni’s Tips On Prescribing Antipsychotics in Pregnancy

August 14, 2016

Prof Jayashri Kulkarni takes us through the key points for clinicians to remember in prescribing antipsychotics in women of childbearing age and pregnant women. Summary: Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA’s) are used in a wide variety of conditions such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Anxiety Disorders…

Trauma and Complex Trauma Disorder by Prof Jayashri Kulkarni

May 10, 2016

Prof Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre discusses the epidemic of antenatal domestic violence, early sexualisation of girls and its consequences on children. Prof Kulkarni further discusses Complex Trauma Disorder (CTD). Despite our hope that pregnant women are…

Women’s Mental Health: A Bio-Psycho-Social Approach by Prof. Jayashri Kulkarni

April 8, 2016

Prof. Jayashri Kulkarni delivering a fascinating and passionate talk on Women’s Mental Health. Prof Kulkarni is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre. Take home messages Investment is required in the field of women’s mental health due to unique variables…

The Link between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Psychiatric Disorders – A Mother’s Plea

March 15, 2016

My sixteen year old daughter is currently attending therapeutic boarding school after roughly two years of struggle with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. She began having difficulties two years ago around the time she experienced a Gran Mal [sic] seizure. She insisted at the time…

WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH