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Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program

Online therapy and psychiatry for pregnant and postpartum women and new mothers experiencing mental health disorders.
Brave Health's Postpartum and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program is designed to improve the mental health of families.

What is a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program?

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) is the term used to describe distressing feelings, emotions and behaviors that occur during pregnancy (prenatal) and can last throughout the first year post-birth (postpartum). The term also includes individuals who have recent child losses such as stillbirth, miscarriages, and planned or unplanned terminations. 

The emotional and psychological responses during the perinatal window can lead to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and psychosis. These challenges can have a major impact in life transitions, family dynamics, and the parent-child relationships. The symptoms range from mild to severe and can affect a mother’s ability to care for herself and others.

Brave Health’s Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program offers individual therapy, group therapy, and psychiatry by clinicians with specialized training in this group of mental health disorders. Patients who have experienced a recent pregnancy or infant loss, due to stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion can also benefit from this specialized online therapy program.

Who could benefit from a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder therapy program?

Brave Health’s Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder program is available to teens and adults who are currently pregnant, have planned or unplanned losses, or are 12 months or less postpartum. The most common PMADs include:

  • Postpartum Depression
  • Perinatal Anxiety
  • Perinatal Panic Disorder
  • Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Perinatal Psychosis
  • Perinatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including birth trauma
  • Perinatal Bipolar Disorders  

The program is open to both adults and adolescents who have experienced a recent pregnancy or infant loss, due to stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion.

What happens in a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder program?

Brave Health has trained PMAD providers that specialize in providing support to those in the perinatal stages. Brave Health offers individual therapy, group therapy, and psychiatry. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for patients in the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder program. Treatment may involve a combination of these approaches:

Individual Therapy: Our trained providers utilize individualized treatment approaches to best fit goals. This can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), parent-child psychotherapy (CPP), and others. Therapy can help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors, develop coping strategies, and improve communication and relationship skills.

Psychiatric Medication Management: Antidepressant medication may be prescribed in cases of moderate to severe postpartum depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often used as a first-line treatment for postpartum depression, as they are generally safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Group Therapy: Brave Health offers several PMAD specialized, clinician-led therapy groups, such as Postpartum Support, First Time Moms, Motherhood, and others. Group therapy allows various individuals with shared difficulties to come together to foster interpersonal learning.

Is telehealth therapy for a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder effective?

Several studies suggest that therapy can be a helpful and valuable treatment option in treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2019 reviewed 27 studies and found that psychological treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and mindfulness-based interventions, were effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among pregnant and postpartum women with PMADs.

Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2018 compared the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with face-to-face CBT for PMADs and found that both forms of therapy were equally effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Seeking help early during pregnancy can lead to more successful outcomes.

Does Medicare or Medicaid insurance cover online Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder therapy programs?

Medicare and Medicaid typically cover psychotherapy, including individual and group therapy, along with psychiatric medication management. It's important to confirm with the insurance company in advance.

How does someone get started in a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder therapy program?

Brave Health's Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder therapy program is only available to patients in Florida at this time. 

Individuals can join the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder therapy program at Brave Health after completing an initial mental health assessment. In just one hour, our therapists will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s health and well-being, helping to create a tailor-made treatment plan that specifically caters to their individual needs.

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Take a brave step towards better mental health. Our team is ready to connect you to care.

(305) 902-6347
Mailing Address
1951 NW 7th Ave, Suite 300
Miami, FL 33136
If you experience a mental health emergency at any time, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
© 2023 Brave Health, Inc., Brave Health Medical Group, PA, and Brave Medical, PC are independent, affiliated organizations. The organization providing clinical services is dependent on the state of residence of the patient.