International conference focusing on women's mental health Oct. 27 to 30 in Pittsburgh

Nearly 500 researchers, clinicians and mental health advocates are expected to attend the 2010 Marcé Society International Conference, Perinatal Mental Health Research: Harvesting the Potential, Oct. 26 to 30, at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh. The event, which focuses on women's mental health issues related to childbearing, will feature keynote speaker former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who has been an active advocate for mental health reform.

Representatives of top medical institutions from around the world will present new research covering: the biology and genetics of psychiatric illness during pregnancy and postpartum; the delivery of psychotherapy, medications and pharmacotherapy care; new data about postpartum depression in fathers; eating disorders in perinatal women; the effects of exposure to maternal psychosocial stress and anxiety; mental health issues for teen mothers, and a discussion about the status of postpartum onset disorders in the DSM-V.

The program will consist of scientific sessions on topics including: promotional discovery in the brain and behavioral sciences to fuel research on the causes of perinatal mental disorders; charting perinatal mental illness trajectories to determine when, where and how to intervene; developing new and better interventions that incorporate the diverse needs and circumstances of women with perinatal mental illnesses and their families; strengthening the public health impact of research for this population. Each day will include sessions for both clinicians and for women with perinatal disorders.

Provided by University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences