Perinatal Mental Health 2025 Exam Questions With
Verified Correct Answers
QUESTION>New PPD med - CORRECT ANSWER~Brexanolone: IV route only, fda approved for ppd.
Continuous infusion over 60 hours. Quickly works. No long term studies.
AE: some lost consciousness, no studies in breastfeeding babies.
20-35K/treatment
QUESTION>Remember... - CORRECT ANSWER~Sleep is essential medicine. Difficult to recover without
adequate sleep.
QUESTION>Risk of benzodiazepines during pregnancy - CORRECT ANSWER~Preterm birth significant!
No major malformations noted
QUESTION>What is fetal toxicity, neonatal toxicity, and neonatal withdrawal - CORRECT ANSWER~Fetal
toxicity: decreased fetal movement, decreased beat to beat variability of fetal HR
Neonatal toxicity: lethargy, weak suck, hypotonia, hypothermia, hyporeflexive, breathing issues
Neonatal withdrawal: hypertonic, hyper reflexes, tremors, jerky, restless, constant crying
QUESTION>Breastfeeding Side effects of benzos - CORRECT ANSWER~Sedation!
QUESTION>Trazodone & pregnancy - CORRECT ANSWER~Improves sleep. May cause too much
sedation...
when used for insomnia only it did improve depression symptoms.
,Not fda approved for insomnia alone.
No increased risk of malformations but some increased risk of preterm labor.
QUESTION >What is a PMAD? - CORRECT ANSWER~A perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (not just
PPD!)
QUESTION>Define the perinatal period. - CORRECT ANSWER~Time from conception through 1st year
after giving birth.
QUESTION>Define the prenatal or antenatal time - CORRECT ANSWER~During pregnancy
QUESTION>Define the postpartum or postnatal time - CORRECT ANSWER~1st year after giving birth
QUESTION>What does PMAD mean? - CORRECT ANSWER~Perinatal mood (depression, bipolar,
psychosis) anxiety (ocd, panic, had, ptsd) disorders (impact daily functioning).
Can occur at anytime in life but increased risk in perinatal period and symptoms have unique
presentation.
QUESTION>How many infants annually are born to depressed mothers? - CORRECT
ANSWER~400,000...making perinatal depression the most under diagnosed obstetric complication in
America
QUESTION>PMADs can affect... - CORRECT ANSWER~Anyone!
They do not discriminate. Can affect anyone. Socioeconomic status is NOT protective
QUESTION>_ in _ women are affected by perinatal depression - CORRECT ANSWER~1 in 7 women
,QUESTION>Percentage of pregnancy induced HTN vs pre-eclampsia vs gestational diabetes vs PMADs? -
CORRECT ANSWER~6-8% PIH, 6-8% pre-eclampsia, 6% gestational diabetes, 21% PMADs
QUESTION>_ in _ men are affected by perinatal depression - CORRECT ANSWER~1 in 10 men
QUESTION>Risks of untreated PMADs - CORRECT ANSWER~Relationship problems, poor adherence to
medical care, exacerbation of chronic medical issues, loss of financial resources, disability, child
neglect/abuse, developmental delays, tobacco/alcohol, drug use, Suicide, homicide
QUESTION>How many pregnancies are unplanned? - CORRECT ANSWER~50%
Not all pregnancies are planned, wanted. Not all pregnancies end with a health baby or fulfillment.
QUESTION>Etiology of PPD? - CORRECT ANSWER~Genetic predisposition, biological sensitivity to
hormonal changes, social/environmental (Hx of trauma or poor social support), psychological
(relationship with own mom, self image/perfectionism)
QUESTION>Cultural considerations of ppd - CORRECT ANSWER~-in some cultures mothers may not feel
safe to express needs or seek help.
-may report symptoms differently based on culture
QUESTION>What did the landmark study on PPD show? - CORRECT ANSWER~22% of women had
depression during first year postpartum: 26% started before pregnancy, 33% during pregnancy, 40%
during postpartum
QUESTION>Of the 22% of postpartum mothers - CORRECT ANSWER~68% had unipolar depression
66% had MDD or combo with GAD
22% bipolar depression
19% had thoughts of harming selves
, QUESTION>Prenatal depression relapse rate with meds and without meds - CORRECT ANSWER~26%
who continued meds relapsed during pregnancy while 68% who stopped meds relapsed
Higher relapse rate if you DC meds
QUESTION>Percent of fathers with PPD? - CORRECT ANSWER~10%
QUESTION>Depression in men: timing, symptoms - CORRECT ANSWER~Peaks at 3-6 months postpartum
May not be sad "masked" and irritable, aggressive, hostile, acting out, checked out, distractions
QUESTION>Do men seek help for their depression? - CORRECT ANSWER~Not often. Only 3% sought
help.
Men are likely to under report symptoms
QUESTION>Single mothers vs single fathers - CORRECT ANSWER~Single mothers: higher risk of
maltreatment. Twice as likely than mothers with partners to have depression.
Single fathers: have 3 times mortality rate than single mothers or partnered parents.
QUESTION>Trans gestational parents - CORRECT ANSWER~Needs research to determine prevalence.
Baseline depression and anxiety higher than adult average already.
QUESTION>Other people at risk - CORRECT ANSWER~Non-gestational parents also at risk for PMADs.
QUESTION>Pregnancy VS Depression - CORRECT ANSWER~Pregnancy-tearful, labor. No change in self
esteem. Sleep disrupted due to bladder. No SI. Tire but rest restores, appropriate worry, joy, increase
appetite
Verified Correct Answers
QUESTION>New PPD med - CORRECT ANSWER~Brexanolone: IV route only, fda approved for ppd.
Continuous infusion over 60 hours. Quickly works. No long term studies.
AE: some lost consciousness, no studies in breastfeeding babies.
20-35K/treatment
QUESTION>Remember... - CORRECT ANSWER~Sleep is essential medicine. Difficult to recover without
adequate sleep.
QUESTION>Risk of benzodiazepines during pregnancy - CORRECT ANSWER~Preterm birth significant!
No major malformations noted
QUESTION>What is fetal toxicity, neonatal toxicity, and neonatal withdrawal - CORRECT ANSWER~Fetal
toxicity: decreased fetal movement, decreased beat to beat variability of fetal HR
Neonatal toxicity: lethargy, weak suck, hypotonia, hypothermia, hyporeflexive, breathing issues
Neonatal withdrawal: hypertonic, hyper reflexes, tremors, jerky, restless, constant crying
QUESTION>Breastfeeding Side effects of benzos - CORRECT ANSWER~Sedation!
QUESTION>Trazodone & pregnancy - CORRECT ANSWER~Improves sleep. May cause too much
sedation...
when used for insomnia only it did improve depression symptoms.
,Not fda approved for insomnia alone.
No increased risk of malformations but some increased risk of preterm labor.
QUESTION >What is a PMAD? - CORRECT ANSWER~A perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (not just
PPD!)
QUESTION>Define the perinatal period. - CORRECT ANSWER~Time from conception through 1st year
after giving birth.
QUESTION>Define the prenatal or antenatal time - CORRECT ANSWER~During pregnancy
QUESTION>Define the postpartum or postnatal time - CORRECT ANSWER~1st year after giving birth
QUESTION>What does PMAD mean? - CORRECT ANSWER~Perinatal mood (depression, bipolar,
psychosis) anxiety (ocd, panic, had, ptsd) disorders (impact daily functioning).
Can occur at anytime in life but increased risk in perinatal period and symptoms have unique
presentation.
QUESTION>How many infants annually are born to depressed mothers? - CORRECT
ANSWER~400,000...making perinatal depression the most under diagnosed obstetric complication in
America
QUESTION>PMADs can affect... - CORRECT ANSWER~Anyone!
They do not discriminate. Can affect anyone. Socioeconomic status is NOT protective
QUESTION>_ in _ women are affected by perinatal depression - CORRECT ANSWER~1 in 7 women
,QUESTION>Percentage of pregnancy induced HTN vs pre-eclampsia vs gestational diabetes vs PMADs? -
CORRECT ANSWER~6-8% PIH, 6-8% pre-eclampsia, 6% gestational diabetes, 21% PMADs
QUESTION>_ in _ men are affected by perinatal depression - CORRECT ANSWER~1 in 10 men
QUESTION>Risks of untreated PMADs - CORRECT ANSWER~Relationship problems, poor adherence to
medical care, exacerbation of chronic medical issues, loss of financial resources, disability, child
neglect/abuse, developmental delays, tobacco/alcohol, drug use, Suicide, homicide
QUESTION>How many pregnancies are unplanned? - CORRECT ANSWER~50%
Not all pregnancies are planned, wanted. Not all pregnancies end with a health baby or fulfillment.
QUESTION>Etiology of PPD? - CORRECT ANSWER~Genetic predisposition, biological sensitivity to
hormonal changes, social/environmental (Hx of trauma or poor social support), psychological
(relationship with own mom, self image/perfectionism)
QUESTION>Cultural considerations of ppd - CORRECT ANSWER~-in some cultures mothers may not feel
safe to express needs or seek help.
-may report symptoms differently based on culture
QUESTION>What did the landmark study on PPD show? - CORRECT ANSWER~22% of women had
depression during first year postpartum: 26% started before pregnancy, 33% during pregnancy, 40%
during postpartum
QUESTION>Of the 22% of postpartum mothers - CORRECT ANSWER~68% had unipolar depression
66% had MDD or combo with GAD
22% bipolar depression
19% had thoughts of harming selves
, QUESTION>Prenatal depression relapse rate with meds and without meds - CORRECT ANSWER~26%
who continued meds relapsed during pregnancy while 68% who stopped meds relapsed
Higher relapse rate if you DC meds
QUESTION>Percent of fathers with PPD? - CORRECT ANSWER~10%
QUESTION>Depression in men: timing, symptoms - CORRECT ANSWER~Peaks at 3-6 months postpartum
May not be sad "masked" and irritable, aggressive, hostile, acting out, checked out, distractions
QUESTION>Do men seek help for their depression? - CORRECT ANSWER~Not often. Only 3% sought
help.
Men are likely to under report symptoms
QUESTION>Single mothers vs single fathers - CORRECT ANSWER~Single mothers: higher risk of
maltreatment. Twice as likely than mothers with partners to have depression.
Single fathers: have 3 times mortality rate than single mothers or partnered parents.
QUESTION>Trans gestational parents - CORRECT ANSWER~Needs research to determine prevalence.
Baseline depression and anxiety higher than adult average already.
QUESTION>Other people at risk - CORRECT ANSWER~Non-gestational parents also at risk for PMADs.
QUESTION>Pregnancy VS Depression - CORRECT ANSWER~Pregnancy-tearful, labor. No change in self
esteem. Sleep disrupted due to bladder. No SI. Tire but rest restores, appropriate worry, joy, increase
appetite
