XL18: A New Paradigm for Depression in New Mothers

Lecturer: Dr Kathy Kendall-Tackett
CERPs: 1.0 L CERP
Cost: US$15.00
Access period: One week
Lecture recorded: at GOLD09
Synopsis: Recent research has revealed that depression is associated with systemic inflammation, specifically, the increase in proinflammatory cytokines. Puerperal women are especially vulnerable because proinflammatory cytokines significantly increase during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Register Now: Registration at SummitZero
About the Lecturer: click "Read more..."

About the lecture: Recent research has revealed that depression is associated with systemic inflammation, specifically, the increase in proinflammatory cytokines. Puerperal women are especially vulnerable because proinflammatory cytokines significantly increase during the last trimester of pregnancy. In addition, common experiences of new motherhood, such as sleep deprivation, postpartum pain, and psychological trauma, also cause inflammation levels to rise. This session will describe the inflammatory response and its relation to physical and psychological stress. This session will also show why breastfeeding and anti-inflammatory treatments, such as Omega-3s, cognitive therapy and antidepressants, protect maternal mental health.

About the lecturer: Kathy Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist, La Leche League Leader and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, Texas, and Acquisitions Editor for Hale Publishing. Dr Kendall-Tackett is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in both the Divisions of Health and Trauma Psychology. She is editor of Family and Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, Associate Editor of the American Psychological Association's journal, Psychological Trauma, and serves on the editorial boards of four other journals in family violence and perinatal health. Dr Kendall-Tackett is author of more than 180 journal articles, book chapters and other publications, and author or editor of 17 books in the fields of trauma, women's health, interpersonal violence, and depression. She is a founding member of the American Psychological Association's Division of Trauma Psychology, and currently serves as Division Secretary.