Real-World Clinical Practice Among Patients With Bipolar Disorder and Chronic Kidney Disease on Long-term Lithium Therapy.

PURPOSE: Long-term lithium therapy (LTLT) has been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated changes in clinical characteristics, pharmacotherapeutic treatments for medical/psychiatric disorders, and outcomes among patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and CKD on LTLT in a 2-year mirror-image study design. METHODS: Adult BD patients on LTLT for ≥1 year who enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Disorder Biobank and developed CKD (stage 3) were included, and our study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. The primary outcome was the time to the first mood episode after CKD diagnosis among the lithium (Li) continuers and discontinuers. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the time to the first mood episode. We tested for differences in other medication changes between the Li continuers and discontinuers group using Mantel-Haenszel χ2 tests (linear associations). RESULTS: Of 38 BD patients who developed CKD, 18 (47%) discontinued Li, and the remainder continued (n = 20). The median age of the cohort was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR], 48-67 years), 63.2% were female, and 97.4% were White. As compared with continuers, discontinuers had more psychotropic medication trials (6 [IQR, 4-6] vs 3 [IQR, 2-5], P = 0.02), a higher rate of 1 or more mood episodes (61% vs 10%, P = 0.002), and a higher risk of a mood episode after CKD diagnoses (Hazard Ratio, 8.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-38.0 [log-rank P = 0.001]]. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar disorder patients on LTLT who discontinued Li had a higher risk for relapse and a shorter time to the first mood episode, suggesting a need for more thorough discussion before Li discontinuation after the CKD diagnosis.

Long-term lithium therapy and risk of chronic kidney disease in bipolar disorder: A historical cohort study.

AIMS: Long-term lithium therapy (LTLT) has been associated with kidney insufficiency in bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to investigate the risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression among BD patients receiving LTLT. METHODS: We included adult patients with BD on LTLT (≥1 year) who were enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank, Rochester, Minnesota. We reviewed electronic medical records to extract information related to lithium therapy and kidney-related data to assess changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CKD severity was assessed based on eGFR. RESULTS: Among 154 patients who received LTLT, 41 patients (27%) developed CKD, of whom 20 (49%) patients continued lithium (continuers) and 19 (46%) discontinued it (discontinuers). The median time to stage 3 CKD development was 21.7 years from the start of Li treatment. Type-2 diabetes mellitus and benzodiazepine use were independent predictors for CKD development in the survival analysis, after controlling for age. The subsequent CKD progression rate did not differ between continuers and discontinuers (mean GFR 48.6 vs. 44.1, p = 0.13) at the end of follow-up duration (mean duration: 3.5 ± 4.4 years for continuers and 4.9 ± 5.3 years for discontinuers). CONCLUSION: CKD was observed in one fourth of patients with BD receiving LTLT. There was no significant difference in the progression of CKD among Li continuers versus discontinuers, at the mean follow-up duration of 4.2 years, after the CKD diagnosis. Progression of CKD could be influenced by existing comorbidities and may not necessarily be due to lithium alone.

Clinician Satisfaction with Rapid Adoption and Implementation of Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: To examine clinician perspectives on the acceptability, appropriateness/suitability, and feasibility of video telehealth as a way to deliver mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Mental health clinicians were surveyed with 27 Likert questions, using previously validated measures, on satisfaction and implementation experience with video telehealth visits between March and June 2020. Results: A total of 112 of 193 clinicians completed the survey (58.0%), including psychiatrists, psychologists, trainees (i.e., residents and fellows), advanced practice providers, and licensed mental health counselors. Clinicians reported high levels of acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of video telehealth; they also reported high levels of satisfaction with video telehealth visits. Seventy-nine and a half (79.5%) reported that their patients seemed highly satisfied with video telehealth visits, and 107 (95.5%) of clinicians responded that they would like video telehealth visits to represent at least 25% of their practice in the future. Discussion: Mental health clinicians showed positive attitudes toward the implementation of video telehealth visits, high levels of satisfaction with this care, and indicated strong interest in continuing this modality as a significant portion of clinical practice. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the ability of mental health clinicians to embrace new technology to expand access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate that telemental health is likely to be an integral part of clinic practice in the future.

Efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive modafinil/armodafinil in bipolar depression: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dopaminergic-enhancing agent modafinil/armodafinil (MoArm) as adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression. METHODS: A comprehensive search of major electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adjunctive MoArm that included patients with bipolar I (BP-I) or bipolar II (BP-II) depression. Data for response/remission and all-cause discontinuation were analyzed. Effect size was summarized by relative risk (RR) using a random effect model. RESULTS: Of 58 studies, five RCTs (N = 795 drug, N = 792 placebo) met inclusion criteria. Four armodafinil studies included only BP-I patients and one modafinil study included both bipolar subtypes with limited heterogeneity (I2  = 34%, P = .19; I2  = 18%, P = .30). Compared to placebo, augmentation with MoArm was associated with significantly greater rates of treatment response (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.37; P = .03) and remission (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10-1.73; P = .005). All-cause discontinuation was not different than placebo (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89-1.30; P = .45) with no evidence of increased risk of mood switch or suicide attempts with MoArm (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.39-2.5; P = .98; RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.37-2.85; P = .97). CONCLUSION: This narrower scope meta-analysis of one drug for one disease suggests that adjunctive MoArm may represent a novel therapeutic intervention. Further studies delineating the subtypes of bipolar depression responsive to these novel dopaminergic-enhancing agents are encouraged.

The association of exercise during pregnancy with trimester-specific and postpartum quality of life and depressive symptoms in a cohort of healthy pregnant women.

Few published studies have examined the relationship between exercise during pregnancy, quality of life (QOL), and postpartum depressive symptoms in healthy pregnant women. A prospective cohort of 578 healthy pregnant women were followed during their pregnancy through 6 months postpartum. Levels of self-reported exercise and QOL before, during, and following pregnancy were assessed using standardized questionnaires during each trimester of pregnancy and 6 months postpartum. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 28 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. Participants were classified as having "sufficient exercise" if they achieved at least 150 min of exercise per week. Sufficient exercisers reported significantly higher ratings on most domains of QOL during each trimester of pregnancy and in the postpartum follow-up, compared with insufficient exercisers. There were no significant between-group differences in depressive symptoms. In examining the impact of exercise during each trimester, active women who became sedentary during their third trimester demonstrated a decline in their QOL. Achieving recommended levels of exercise during pregnancy was associated with higher QOL during pregnancy and the postpartum in healthy pregnant women. Decreasing the amount of exercise during pregnancy was associated with reduced QOL. These results suggest that it may be important for health care professionals to counsel healthy pregnant women about both the benefits of being physically active during pregnancy, and to provide guidance on how to remain physically active during a healthy pregnancy.

Sex differences in effectiveness and adverse effects of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders differ in their prevalence, symptom profiles, and disease courses in men and women. However, sex differences in psychiatric disorders have not received enough attention to guide treatment recommendations. This systematic review aims to summarize sex differences in the treatment responses and adverse effects of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics transdiagnostically. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 statement (CRD42020212478). A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus databases. Studies comparing mood stabilizer or antipsychotic treatment outcomes in men and women were included. JBI critical appraisal checklists were used to assess bias risk. RESULTS: Out of 4866 records, 129 reports (14 on mood stabilizers, 115 on antipsychotics) with varying designs were included. Sample sizes ranged from 17 to 22,774 participants (median = 147). The most common psychiatric diagnoses were schizophrenia spectrum (n = 109, 84.5 %) and bipolar disorders (n = 38, 29.5 %). Only four studies explored sex differences in mood stabilizer treatment response. In 40 articles on antipsychotic treatment response, 18 indicated no sex difference, while 16 showed females had better outcomes. Women had more adverse effects with both mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. The risk of bias was low in 84 (65.1 %) of studies. LIMITATIONS: Substantial heterogeneity among the studies precluded performing a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Number of studies focusing on sex differences in treatment outcomes of mood stabilizers is limited. Women may respond better to antipsychotics than men, but also experience more side effects. The impact of pharmacokinetics on sex differences warrants more attention.

Pharmacogenomic overlap between antidepressant treatment response in major depression & antidepressant associated treatment emergent mania in bipolar disorder.

There is increasing interest in individualizing treatment selection for more than 25 regulatory approved treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite an inconclusive efficacy evidence base, antidepressants (ADs) are prescribed for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder (BD) with oftentimes, an inadequate treatment response and or clinical concern for mood destabilization. This study explored the relationship between antidepressant response in MDD and antidepressant-associated treatment emergent mania (TEM) in BD. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and polygenic score analysis of TEM and tested its association in a subset of BD-type I patients treated with SSRIs or SNRIs. Our results did not identify any genome-wide significant variants although, we found that a higher polygenic score (PGS) for antidepressant response in MDD was associated with higher odds of TEM in BD. Future studies with larger transdiagnostic depressed cohorts treated with antidepressants are encouraged to identify a neurobiological mechanism associated with a spectrum of depression improvement from response to emergent mania.

Cardiometabolic and endocrine comorbidities in women with bipolar disorder: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar Disorder (BD) is known to be equally distributed among males and females. The well-documented increased risk of medical comorbidities in patients with BD, in comparison to BD patients without medical comorbidities, shows a negative impact on the course of illness. There is some evidence suggesting that women with BD have higher psychiatric and medical comorbidities in comparison to men with BD, however there is no evidence in comparison to women without BD or other major psychiatric illness. These comorbidities, along with various psychosocial factors, are known to affect the course of BD. METHODS: We aimed to systematically review the literature on cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine comorbidities in women with BD in comparison to men with BD and control women. A comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and SCOPUS was conducted, and a total of 61 identified studies were included in this review. RESULTS: Women with BD had higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors/mortality, diabetes mellitus II and thyroid disorders compared to women in the general population. In comparison to men with BD, women with BD had comparable cardiovascular risk but higher prevalence of metabolic and thyroid disorders. LIMITATIONS: Gender specific data was limited in multiple studies. CONCLUSIONS: Results present a need for gender-specific screening and interventions for various medical comorbidities in patients with BD.

Clinical and Genetic Correlates of Bipolar Disorder With Childhood-Onset Attention Deficit Disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) with co-occurring attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with an unfavorable course of illness. We aimed to identify potential clinical and genetic correlates of BD with and without ADHD. Methods: Among patients with BD (N = 2,198) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank we identified those with ADHD diagnosed in childhood (BD+cADHD; N = 350), those with adult-onset attention deficit symptoms (BD+aAD; N = 254), and those without ADHD (N = 1,594). We compared the groups using linear or logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and recruitment site. For genotyped patients (N = 1,443), logistic regression was used to compare ADHD and BD polygenic risk scores (PRSs) between the BD groups, as well as to non-BD controls (N = 777). Results: Compared to the non-ADHD BD group, BD+cADHD patients were younger, more often men and had a greater number of co-occurring anxiety and substance use disorders (all p < 0.001). Additionally, BD+cADHD patients had poorer responses to lithium and lamotrigine (p = 0.005 and p = 0.007, respectively). In PRS analyses, all BD patient subsets had greater genetic risk for BD and ADHD when compared to non-BD controls (p < 0.001 in all comparisons). BD+cADHD patients had a higher ADHD-PRS than non-ADHD BD patients (p = 0.012). However, BD+aAD patients showed no evidence of higher ADHD-PRS than non-ADHD BD patients (p = 0.38). Conclusions: BD+cADHD was associated with a greater number of comorbidities and reduced response to mood stabilizing treatments. The higher ADHD PRS for the BD+cADHD group may reflect a greater influence of genetic factors on early presentation of ADHD symptoms.

Quantification of diet quality utilizing the rapid eating assessment for participants-shortened version in bipolar disorder: Implications for prospective depression and cardiometabolic studies.

OBJECTIVES: Recognizing bipolar disorder as a multi-system metabolic condition driven, in part, by binge eating behavior and atypical depressive symptoms, this study aimed to quantify diet quality and evaluate clinical correlates in a bipolar disorder cohort. METHODS: Participants from the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Disorder Biobank (n = 734) completed the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants - Shortened version (REAP-S) to determine diet quality. The average REAP-S score for a U.S. omnivorous diet is 32 (range 13 to 39) with higher scores indicating healthier diet. Demographic variables were collected in a standardized clinical questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Bipolar Inventory of Symptoms Scale. Cardiometabolic variables were retrieved from the electronic health record. Associations between continuous variables and REAP-S scores (total, 'healthy foods' and 'avoidance of unhealthy foods') were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: Overall, our sample had a mean REAP-S score of 27.6 (4.9), suggestive of a lower diet quality than the average general population in the US. There was a significant inverse relationship between mean REAP-S lower scores with increased BMI, waist circumference, disordered eating and depression. All these associations were significantly stronger in female participants. LIMITATIONS: EHR cross-sectional data. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest unhealthy diet quality in bipolar disorder is associated with depression, obesity and cardiometabolic abnormalities. Additional work is encouraged to prospectively track mood and diet quality to further understand the bidirectional relationship and clarify if dietary interventions can positively impact mood. Further delineating potential sex differences in diet quality and depression may provide greater appreciation of modifiable risk factors for future cardiometabolic burden.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Management in Multicenter Community Practices: Clinicians' Training, Current Practices and Perceived Strategies to Improve Future Implementation.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore clinicians' perspectives on the current practice of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) management and strategies to improve future implementation. METHODS: This study had a cross-sectional, descriptive design. A 35-item electronic survey was sent to clinicians (N = 118) who treated perinatal women and practiced at several community clinics at an academic medical center in the United States. RESULTS: Among clinicians who provided care for perinatal women, 34.7% reported never receiving PMAD management training and 66.3% had less than 10 years of experience. Out of 10 patients who reported psychiatric symptoms, 47.8% of clinicians on average reported providing PMAD management to 1 to 3 patients and 40.7% noted that they conducted screening only when patient expresses PMAD symptoms. Suggested future improvements were providing training, developing a referral list, and establishing integrated behavioral health services. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicated that while PMAD screening and management was implemented, improvements are warranted to meet established guidelines. Additionally, clinicians endorsed providing PMAD management to a small percentage of perinatal patients. Suggested strategies to increase adoption and implementation of PMAD management should be explored to improve access to behavioral health services for perinatal women.

Management of Restless Legs Syndrome in Pregnancy and Lactation.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects about 20% of all pregnant women. RLS symptoms are usually moderate to severe in intensity during pregnancy and can result in insomnia, depression, and other adverse outcomes. Although iron deficiency has been implicated as a potential etiological factor, other mechanisms can also play a role. Nonpharmacologic methods are the primary recommended form of treatment for RLS in pregnancy and lactation. Iron supplementation may be considered when the serum ferritin is low; however, several patients are unable to tolerate iron or have severe symptoms despite oral iron replacement. Here, we describe a case of severe RLS in pregnancy and illustrate the dilemmas in diagnosis and management. We review the literature on the prevalence, diagnosis, course, possible underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and complications of RLS in pregnancy. We describe current best evidence on the efficacy, and safety of nonpharmacologic therapies, oral and intravenous iron supplementation, as well as other medication treatments for RLS in pregnancy and lactation. We highlight gaps in the literature and provide a practical guide for the clinical management of RLS in pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Potential pharmacogenomic targets in bipolar disorder: considerations for current testing and the development of decision support tools to individualize treatment selection.

BACKGROUND: Treatment in bipolar disorder (BD) is commonly applied as a multimodal therapy based on decision algorithms that lack an integrative understanding of molecular mechanisms or a biomarker associated clinical outcome measure. Pharmacogenetics/genomics study the individual genetic variation associated with drug response. This selective review of pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenomic testing (PGT) in BD will focus on candidate genes and genome wide association studies of pharmacokinetic drug metabolism and pharmacodynamic drug response/adverse event, and the potential role of decision support tools that incorporate multiple genotype/phenotype drug recommendations. MAIN BODY: We searched PubMed from January 2013 to May 2019, to identify studies reporting on BD and pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics and PGT. Studies were selected considering their contribution to the field. We summarize our findings in: targeted candidate genes of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways, genome-wide association studies and, PGT platforms, related to BD treatment. This field has grown from studies of metabolizing enzymes (i.e., pharmacokinetics) and drug transporters (i.e., pharmacodynamics), to untargeted investigations across the entire genome with the potential to merge genomic data with additional biological information. CONCLUSIONS: The complexity of BD genetics and, the heterogeneity in BD drug-related phenotypes, are important considerations for the design and interpretation of BD PGT. The clinical applicability of PGT in psychiatry is in its infancy and is far from reaching the robust impact it has in other medical disciplines. Nonetheless, promising findings are discovered with increasing frequency with remarkable relevance in neuroscience, pharmacology and biology.

Cytochrome P450 2C19 Poor Metabolizer Phenotype in Treatment Resistant Depression: Treatment and Diagnostic Implications.

Background: Pharmacogenomic testing, specifically for pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) genetic variation, may contribute to a better understanding of baseline genetic differences in patients seeking treatment for depression, which may further impact clinical antidepressant treatment recommendations. This study evaluated PK and PD genetic variation and the clinical use of such testing in treatment seeking patients with bipolar disorder (BP) and major depressive disorder (MDD) and history of multiple drug failures/treatment resistance. Methods: Consecutive depressed patients evaluated at the Mayo Clinic Depression Center over a 10-year study time frame (2003-2013) were included in this retrospective analysis. Diagnoses of BP or MDD were confirmed using a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Clinical rating scales included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD24), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire. Clinically selected patients underwent genotyping of cytochrome P450 CYP2D6/CYP2C19 and the serotonin transporter SLC6A4. PK and PD differences and whether clinicians incorporated test results in providing recommendations were compared between the two patient groups. Results: Of the 1795 patients, 167/523 (31.9%) with BP and 446/1272 (35.1%) with MDD were genotyped. Genotyped patients had significantly higher self-report measures of depression and anxiety compared to non-genotyped patients. There were significantly more CYP2C19 poor metabolizer (PM) phenotypes in BP (9.3%) vs. MDD patients (1.7%, p = 0.003); among participants with an S-allele, the rate of CYP2C19 PM phenotype was even higher in the BP (9.8%) vs. MDD (0.6%, p = 0.003). There was a significant difference in the distribution of SLC6A4 genotypes between BP (l/l = 28.1%, s/l = 59.3%, s/s = 12.6%) and MDD (l/l = 31.4%, s/l = 46.1%, s/s = 22.7%) patients (p < 0.01). Conclusion: There may be underlying pharmacogenomic differences in treatment seeking depressed patients that potentially have impact on serum levels of CYP2C19 metabolized antidepressants (i.e., citalopram / escitalopram) contributing to rates of efficacy vs. side effect burden with additional potential risk of antidepressant response vs. induced mania. The evidence for utilizing pharmacogenomics-guided therapy in MDD and BP is still developing with a much needed focus on drug safety, side effect burden, and treatment adherence.

Profile of vortioxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: an overview of the primary and secondary literature.

This article reviews the pharmacological profile and available efficacy and tolerability/safety data for vortioxetine, one of the most recent antidepressant drugs to be approved in the USA for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. The efficacy of vortioxetine for treating MDD in adults is supported by eight positive short-term (6- to 12-weeks) randomized, placebo-controlled trials, and one positive randomized, double-blind, 52-week relapse prevention trial. Based on pooled data from short-term randomized trials and from longer-term studies, vortioxetine appears to be well tolerated and to have a low incidence of adverse effects on sexual functioning. Vortioxetine also appears to be effective for treating symptoms of MDD in the elderly based on the results of one randomized trial for which recruitment was focused on this specific population. Nevertheless, effectiveness studies that directly compare the clinical effects of vortioxetine with other established antidepressant drugs are lacking, and there is no evidence as yet that vortioxetine is more clinically effective than other types of antidepressants. Some preliminary suggestions concerning the place of vortioxetine among the broad range of pharmacological treatments for adults with MDD are provided.

Treatment of bipolar disorders during pregnancy: maternal and fetal safety and challenges.

Treating pregnant women with bipolar disorder is among the most challenging clinical endeavors. Patients and clinicians are faced with difficult choices at every turn, and no approach is without risk. Stopping effective pharmacotherapy during pregnancy exposes the patient and her baby to potential harms related to bipolar relapses and residual mood symptom-related dysfunction. Continuing effective pharmacotherapy during pregnancy may prevent these occurrences for many; however, some of the most effective pharmacotherapies (such as valproate) have been associated with the occurrence of congenital malformations or other adverse neonatal effects in offspring. Very little is known about the reproductive safety profile and clinical effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drugs when used to treat bipolar disorder during pregnancy. In this paper, we provide a clinically focused review of the available information on potential maternal and fetal risks of untreated or undertreated maternal bipolar disorder during pregnancy, the effectiveness of interventions for bipolar disorder management during pregnancy, and potential obstetric, fetal, and neonatal risks associated with core foundational pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorder.

Paliperidone Palmitate Associated with Necrotizing Deep Tissue Infection and Sepsis Requiring Surgical Intervention.

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics provide the delivery of medication over an extended period of time requiring administration typically only every 2 to 4 weeks. The side effect profile of a long-acting injectable antipsychotic is predictable and similar to the oral formulation. However, injection site reactions may occur with this novel delivery system. The risk of an injection site reaction may be greater with the repeated administration of a lipophilic decanoate formulation and include pain, development of indurations, and fibrosis. Severe complications from injection site reactions have rarely been described in the literature with newer agents. We report the first case of a patient prescribed paliperidone palmitate every 3 weeks that developed severe sepsis requiring vasopressors and intubation due to delayed relayed recognition of a necrotizing infection at an injection site. Clinicians should be alerted to screen for injection site reactions when there is an unknown source infection in a patient receiving a long-acting injectable antipsychotic.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in pregnancy and the puerperium: a review of the literature.

In this article, we review the available research on postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Most studies are retrospective in nature, thus not answering questions as to overall prevalence of such symptoms. However, there are consistent findings with regard to symptom profile: obsessional thoughts in postpartum OCD tend to concern fears of harm to the infant. We discuss distinctions between postpartum OCD symptoms and postpartum depression and psychosis. Although preliminary, research on treatments for postpartum OCD indicates the effectiveness of medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. We explore the relationship between OCD symptoms and postpartum depression and offer possible directions for future study. We also consider the proposed etiological models and offer a fresh conceptualization of this condition.