This week, Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Kristen Rice Moore about maternal mental health in SC. Dr. Kristen Rice Moore is a psychiatrist in the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. About 1 in 7 women experience a perinatal mood disorder during pregnancy or the year after. Doctor Kristen Rice Moore is here to talk about maternal mental health in South Carolina. Doctor Rice Moore is a psychiatrist in the women's Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC. Doctor Rice Moore, tell us briefly about maternal mental health. mood disorders.
Dr. Rice Moore: A very common type of maternal mental health mood disorder is specifically postpartum depression. It occurs specifically in the postpartum and perinatal periods. The symptoms commonly, that kind of overlap with major depressive disorder are things like persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, lack of energy, sleep issues, changes in appetite, trouble concentrating. And then there's some symptoms of postpartum depression that are more specific, a lot of anxiety that is very focused on the baby, intrusive thoughts that a mother finds distressing.
Conner: Tell us about treatment for individuals with maternal mood disorders.
Dr. Rice Moore: So for mild, moderate and severe postpartum depression, we recommend therapy always. For more moderate and severe postpartum depression, we also can recommend medications.
Conner: What else do we need to know about mental health medications in this scenario?
Dr. Rice Moore: I think one of the most important things to remember is to not automatically discontinue mental health medications when you become pregnant. There are medications that are compatible with pregnancy, and this should really be discussed individually with your healthcare provider. We do know in general that if your mental health conditions are untreated in pregnancy, you will have an increased chance of developing postpartum depression.
Conner: Tell us about the MUSC Mom's IMPACTT, (improving access to maternal mental health and substance use disorder care through telehealth).
Dr. Rice Moore: It's a wonderful program that is for the entire state of South Carolina. So, anyone in South Carolina who is suffering from mental health issues and who are pregnant or within 12 months postpartum can refer themselves in, and we can connect them with a psychiatrist and a psychologist. The way to access this is just Google MUSC Moms impactt.
Conner: And how common are mood disorders in South Carolina, either during pregnancy or after childbirth?
Dr. Rice Moore: Roughly 1 in 7 women, which is about 14% in South Carolina, suffer from depression during or after pregnancy. Specifically, the South Carolina Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee, which review every maternal death within 365 days after their pregnancy ends, ranks mental health conditions and substance use disorders as the second leading cause of maternal deaths in the state.
Conner: Tragically, suicide and overdose are leading causes of maternal death in our state. What do you want a mom to know, who might be in a crisis right now and needs help?
Dr. Rice Moore: I would first and always recommend that if you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, please go immediately to an emergency room. There is also a suicide and crisis hotline that you can reach day or night at 988.
Conner: Doctor Rice Moore, thanks for talking with us about maternal mental health in South Carolina.
Dr. Rice Moore: Thank you for having me.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
