Psych Congress Pre-Conference to Explore Reproductive Psychiatry and Perinatal Mental Health

In this exclusive preview, Psych Congress 2023 pre-conference presenters share what attendees can expect from the session created in partnership with the International Society for Reproductive Psychiatry (ISRP). Session speakers and members of the ISRP board of directors, Rachel Dalthorp, MD, MHSA, Melanie Barrett, MD, and Danielle Johnson, MD, FAPA, urge attendees to get ready to delve into the complex intersection of mental health and reproductive wellness. Designed to provide an immersive overview of reproductive psychiatry, this pre-conference promises to be a pivotal learning experience for attendees seeking a deeper understanding of women's health and mental well-being throughout their lifespan. 

The session, titled “Introduction to Reproductive Psychiatry and Perinatal Mental Health” will take place on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, on-site at the 36th annual Psych Congress in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information on this session, conference as a whole, or to register, visit the conference website. 

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Read the Transcript:

Rachel Dalthorp, MD, MHSA: Hi, I'm Dr Rachel Dalthorp.

Melanie Barrett, MD: And I'm Dr Melanie Barrett.

Danielle Johnson, MD, FAPA: And I'm Dr Danielle Johnson.

Dr Dalthorp: We're all founding board members of ISRP, a nonprofit organization created to increase collaboration and education in the field of women's mental health. We're excited to be hosting the Perinatal Mental Health preconference at Psych Congress this year. We have 3 hours of dedicated time to talk all about women's mental health. New this year the preconferences will start on the same day as the main conference sessions, which is September 6th. If you're interested in joining us for the preconference, we encourage you to arrive the day prior.

Dr Barrett: We'll have a panel of reproductive psychiatrists with diverse backgrounds and years of clinical experience. We are passionate about women's mental health and are excited to share practical knowledge. Dr Johnson, why are you excited to connect with the Psych Congress audience of clinicians?

Dr Johnson: All of us working in the mental health field will be caring for women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, and we have to be equipped with the clinical knowledge to be there for our patients. Why should people attend the preconference meeting?

Dr Barrett: We believe that everyone could benefit from attending the perinatal mental health preconference. Now, more than ever, we need to come together to support each other in increasing access to personalized and expert care for women experiencing mental illness. It's crucial to maintain mood stability during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, and we have to be there for women during this time of their lives.

Dr Johnson: In addition to hormonal changes, sorry, give me a second. I'm glad they can edit this. In addition to hormonal changes that may increase the risk of mental health issues, new mothers are dealing with a lot of potential stressors after giving birth, from changing relationships with their partners to coping with financial pressures of having a new baby, sleep deprivation, changes to their body, and navigating a new identity as a mother.

Dr Dalthorp: At the preconference, we'll prepare you to have discussions with your patients about psychiatric medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding and how to support them and their mental health.

Dr Barrett: What are some of the topics attendees can anticipate hearing about during the preconference?

Dr Dalthorp: Yeah, so we're going to discuss the utility of preconception planning visits, explore how to think about risks of medications versus risks of untreated maternal mental health conditions, and share reputable and valuable educational resources for clinicians and their patients.

Dr Barrett: If you have ever had a patient notify you that they're pregnant and ask you if they should stop their medication and you're not sure what to do, this preconference is for you.

Dr Johnson: If you are comfortable treating women with depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period, but want information about bipolar disorder and addictions, this preconference is for you. What are a few key takeaways you hope attendees will gain from the preconference?

Dr Barrett: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are common but treatable. The impact of untreated or undertreated mental illness impacts the entire family and has long-term effects on child development and risk for mental illness.

Dr Johnson: In general, if an antidepressant is keeping your patients stable, keep them on it during pregnancy, avoid Depakote in women of reproductive age, and it is crucial to differentiate postpartum OCD from postpartum psychosis. What are you most excited about at this year's Psych Congress?

Dr Dalthorp: Well, it's a great opportunity to connect in person with colleagues across the country. It's going to be a great time. And in addition to the preconference on Perinatal Mental health, ISRP has partnered with Psych Congress to also provide additional women's mental health presentations on postpartum psychosis, infertility, and integrative treatments.

Dr Barrett: Join us on September 6th in Nashville to connect with reproductive psychiatrists and learn about assessing and treating psychiatric conditions in women in anticipation of pregnancy, during pregnancy, and in the postpartum period. You'll leave with practical tips and resources that you don't want to miss. Let's advance women's mental health care together.

Rachel Dalthorp, MD, MHSA, is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. In 2014 she founded a women's mental health practice called Balance Women’s Health and in 2020, became a member of the LifeStance clinical team. She is a founding board member of the International Society of Reproductive Psychiatry.
Dr Dalthorp earned her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center followed by a 4-year psychiatric residency. 

Melanie Barrett, MD, received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine following undergraduate studies in Psychology at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. She completed her psychiatry residency at the University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, where she served as a Chief Resident. Dr Barrett specializes in the treatment of women’s mental health disorders using an integrated approach and has obtained board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. She has helped develop the Oklahoma LifeStance Health Zulresso Program. She is currently serving as president of The International Society of Reproductive Psychiatry.

Danielle Johnson, MD, FAPA, completed psychiatry residency and was chief resident of Psychiatric Emergency Services at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine/University Hospital. She is a board certified adult psychiatrist with expertise in women’s mental health issues such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and perinatal mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. She is Chief Medical Officer at Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason, OH, and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences. Dr. Johnson is Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She is on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Reproductive Psychiatry and a member of the Ohio Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review committee.