Seeking new solutions for perinatal mental health
Regan Odysseus was scared. She'd tried Prozac before, but the medication made her mental health worse, leaving her unsure whether further treatment would help or hurt. But between her full-time job as an ICU nurse, her full-time job as a mom, and the hormone shifts from her second pregnancy, the pressure on her mental health was becoming unsustainable.
Regan Odysseus, a full-time ICU nurse and mother of two, sought help for her worsening mental health during her second pregnancy. Despite previous negative experiences with medication, including Prozac, Odysseus was determined to address her depression and anxiety. She enrolled in a clinical trial led by perinatal psychiatrist Rana Jawish, MD, which combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as an alternative to medication.
Odysseus found the therapy's supportive environment and comprehensive care to be crucial in her improvement, experiencing increased well-being and a better ability to care for her family. However, the trial's small size and early phase make it difficult to definitively determine the effectiveness of TMS in pregnant populations. Jawish hopes to conduct larger studies to assess the treatment's efficacy and safety.
This trial highlights the importance of addressing maternal mental health, as poor mental health in pregnant people can have significant impacts on their families. Odysseus emphasizes that seeking help is a brave step, and encourages others going through similar struggles to reach out for support.
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