Research lays a foundation of knowledge for understanding psychopathology, mental health and the relationship between psychological factors and physical disease.

Research also provides a body of evidence to guide clinical practice, including empirically validated methods to assess people and their problems and empirically supported methods of prevention and treatment.

Research findings should also identify those interventions that have been shown to be more effective than no treatment or alternative forms of treatment. Just as research informs clinical practice, clinical experiences provide a source of ideas and hypotheses for research. Research also provides ideas for new directions and applications for the field of clinical psychology, including links between clinical psychology and research in other behavioral, biological, and social sciences.

Therefore, Maternal Mental Health NOW is dedicated to:

(1) providing access to up-to-date empirical research articles for our health care community providers and to the women and families they serve; and

(2) supporting local research studies that focus on maternal mental health. This is important because, maternal mental health is a dynamic and fast-paced research field and you can help move the field forward with your participation!

We take a team approach to this effort. Our research subcommittee regularly updates the Training Institute’s materials and this webpage, in order to objectively maintain academic rigor and provide research opportunities to our community.

The six broad areas of research that we update include Screening, Interventions, Risks, Outcomes, Neurobiology and Disparities Research. We also include a research folder focused on our conference topic, which changes every 2 years. Please click on the links below for additional information, including abstracts and in some cases full-length articles.

**These are for educational purposes only, and not to be distributed.**

Articles and Reports

Below is a list of research articles and reports related to each category that have been vetted by our research committee. Please click on the links below for additional information, including abstracts and in some cases full-length articles.

  1. Woofter, R., Hill, G., Wong, E., Bright, T. J., Bresee, C., Kilpatrick, S. J., & Accortt, E. E. (2025). Improving inpatient postpartum depression screening: results from a quality improvement initiative. Archives of women’s mental health, 28(5), 1295–1307.
  2. Ooba, H., Maki, J., & Masuyama, H. (2025). Voice analysis and deep learning for detecting mental disorders in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study. Discover Mental Health, 5(1).
  3. Witcraft, S. M., Johnson, E., Eitel, A. E., Moreland, A. D, King, C., Mishka Terplan, & Guille, C. (2024). Listening to Black Pregnant and Postpartum People: Using Technology to Enhance Equity in Screening and Treatment of Perinatal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
  4. Fairbrother, N., Stagg, B., Scoten, O., Keeney, C., & Cargnelli, C. (2024). Perinatal anxiety disorders screening study: a study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1).
  5. Kiraly, C., Boyle-Duke, B., & Liat Shklarski. (2024). The role of maternal and child healthcare providers in identifying and supporting perinatal mental health disorders. PloS One, 19(7), e0306265–e0306265.
  6. Ash, M. J., Livingston, M. D., Sales, J. M., & Woods-Jaeger, B. (2024). Mental Health Treatment Utilization and Unmet Mental Health Needs Among Black Reproductive-Age Women in the United States. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 75(11), 1092–1100.
  7. Taiwo, T. K., Goode, K., Niles, P. M., Stoll, K., Malhotra, N., & Vedam, S. (2024). Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder and Reproductive Justice: Examining Unmet Needs for Mental Health and Social Services in a National Cohort. Health equity, 8(1), 3–13.
  8. Dossett, E.C., Castañeda-Cudney, S.L., Nguyen, M.T. et al. (2023). Reproductive psychiatric advance directives: promoting autonomy for perinatal people with serious mental illness diagnoses. Arch Womens Ment Health.
  9. Goodsmith, N., Dossett, E. C., Gitlin, R., Fenwick, K., Ong, J. R., Hamilton, A., & Cordasco, K. M. (2023). Acceptability of reproductive goals assessment in public mental health care. Health services research, 58(2), 510–520.
  10. Accortt, E. E., Haque, L., Bamgbose, O., Buttle, R., & Kilpatrick, S. (2022). Implementing an inpatient postpartum depression screening, education, and referral program: a quality improvement initiative. American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM, 4(3), 100581.
  11. Waqas, A., Koukab, A., Meraj, H., Dua, T., Chowdhary, N., Fatima, B., & Rahman, A. (2022). Screening programs for common maternal mental health disorders among perinatal women: Report of the systematic review of evidence. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1).
  12. Avila, A., & Leeper, E. (2022). Assessment of barriers to effective use of psychiatric advance directives: Providers’ knowledge and attitudes. Psychological services.
  13. Cahn, M., Mulcahy, A., Gonzales, K., Miller, G., & Smith, W. (2022). Healthcare Professionals; Perspectives on Integrating Reproductive and Acute Mental Healthcare. Sexuality and Disability, 40(4), 749-768.
  14. Bhat, A., Nanda, A., Murphy, L., Ball, A. L., Fortney, J., & Katon, J. (2021). A systematic review of screening for perinatal depression and anxiety in community-based settings. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 25.
  15. Sidebottom, A., Vacquier, M., LaRusso, E., Erickson, D., & Hardeman, R. (2021). Perinatal depression screening practices in a large health system: identifying current state and assessing opportunities to provide more equitable care. Archives of women’s mental health, 24(1), 133–144.
  16. Hansotte, E., Payne, S.I. & Babich, S.M. Positive postpartum depression screening practices and subsequent mental health treatment for low-income women in Western countries: a systematic literature review. Public Health Rev 38, 3 (2017).
  17. Wright, T. E., Terplan, M., Ondersma, S. J., Boyce, C., Yonkers, K., Chang, G., & Creanga, A. A. (2016). The role of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in the perinatal period. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 215(5), 539–547.

  1. Dossett, E. C., Castañeda-Cudney, S. L., Nguyen, M. T., Olgun, M., Wang, J., Keris Jän Myrick, Hallmark, L., & Saks, E. R. (2023). Reproductive psychiatric advance directives: promoting autonomy for perinatal people with serious mental illness diagnoses. Archives of Women S Mental Health.
  2. Goodsmith, N., Dossett, E. C., Gitlin, R., Fenwick, K., Ong, J. R., Hamilton, A., & Cordasco, K. M. (2023). Acceptability of reproductive goals assessment in public mental health care. Health services research, 58(2), 510–520.
  3. Reese, S. E., Glover, A., Fitch, S., Salyer, J., Lofgren, V., & McCracken Iii, C. T. (2023). Early Insights into Implementation of Universal Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Perinatal Substance Use. Maternal and child health journal, 27(Suppl 1), 58–66.
  4. O’Brien, J., Gregg, L., & Wittkowski, A. (2023). A systematic review of clinical psychological guidance for perinatal mental health. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 790.
  5. Cahn, M., Mulcahy, A., Gonzales, K., Miller, G., & Smith, W. (2022). Healthcare Professionals” Perspectives on Integrating Reproductive and Acute Mental Healthcare. Sexuality and Disability.
  6. Avila, A., & Leeper, E. (2021). Assessment of barriers to effective use of psychiatric advance directives: Providers’ knowledge and attitudes. Psychological Services, 19(2), 271–282.
  7. Accortt, E. E., Arora, C., Mirocha, J., Jackman, S., Liang, R., Karumanchi, S. A., Berg, A. & Hobel, C. J. (2021). Low Prenatal Vitamin D Metabolite Ratio and Subsequent Postpartum Depression Risk. Journal of Women’s Health, 30(1), 113-120
  8. Griffen, A., McIntyre, L., Belsito, J. Z., Burkhard, J., Davis, W., Kimmel, M., Stuebe, A., Clark, C., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2021). Perinatal Mental Health Care In The United States: An Overview Of Policies And Programs. Health Affairs, 40(10), 1543–1550.
  9. Puspitasari, A. J., Heredia, D., Weber, E., Betcher, H. K., Coombes, B. J., Brodrick, E. M., Skinner, S. M., Tomlinson, A. L., Salik, S. S., Allen, S. V., O’Grady, J. S., Johnson, E. K., L’amoureux, T. M., & Moore, K. M. (2021). Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Management in Multicenter Community Practices: Clinicians’ Training, Current Practices and Perceived Strategies to Improve Future Implementation. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 12, 215013272199688.
  10. Singla, D. R., Lawson, A., Kohrt, B. A., Jung, J. W., Meng, Z., Ratjen, C., Zahedi, N., Dennis, C. L., & Patel, V. (2021). Implementation and Effectiveness of Nonspecialist-Delivered Interventions for Perinatal Mental Health in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA psychiatry, 78(5), 498–509.
  11. Wright, T. E., Terplan, M., Ondersma, S. J., Boyce, C., Yonkers, K., Chang, G., & Creanga, A. A. (2016). The role of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in the perinatal period. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 215(5), 539–547.
  12. Rominov, H., Pilkington, P. D., Giallo, R., & Whelan, T. A. (2016). A systematic review of interventions targeting paternal mental health in the perinatal period. Infant mental health journal, 37(3), 289-301.
  13. Kramlich, D., & Kronk, R. (2015). Relational Care for Perinatal Substance Use: A Systematic Review. MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing, 40(5), 320–326.

  1. Portes, A. A., Mansfield, L. N., Frazier, T., & Cortés, Y. I. (2026). Risk and Protective Factors of Perinatal Depression in Perinatal Latinas: a Systematic Review. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 10.1007/s40615-026-02974-4. Advance online publication.
  2. Maxwell, D., Munoz, R., Leat, S., & Jackson, C. (2025). Race-Related Stress as a Driver of Postpartum Depression Among a Sample of Black Mothers. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 15(11), 1533.
  3. Welz N. (2025). Exploring Black Maternal Suicidal Ideation: A Pilot Study Exploring Risk and Protective Factors for Perinatal Suicidal Thoughts in Black Women. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 10.1007/s40615-025-02739-5. Advance online publication.
  4. Frew J. R. (2023). Reducing the stigma of perinatal substance use disorders: the time is now. Archives of women’s mental health, 26(3), 411–413.
  5. Gastaldon, C., Solmi, M., Correll, C. U., Barbui, C., & Schoretsanitis, G. (2022). Risk factors of postpartum depression and depressive symptoms: umbrella review of current evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 221(4), 591–602.
  6. Hutchens, B. F., & Kearney, J. (2020). Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression: An Umbrella Review. Journal of midwifery & women’s health, 65(1), 96–108.
  7. Brown, H. K., Wilton, A. S., Ray, J. G., Dennis, C. L., Guttmann, A., & Vigod, S. N. (2019). Chronic physical conditions and risk for perinatal mental illness: A population-based retrospective cohort study. PLoS medicine, 16(8), e1002864.
  8. Pasch, L. A., Holley, S. R., Bleil, M. E., Shehab, D., Katz, P. P., & Adler, N. E. (2016). Addressing the needs of fertility treatment patients and their partners: are they informed of and do they receive mental health services?. Fertility and sterility, 106(1), 209–215.e2.
  9. Nynas, J., Narang, P., Kolikonda, M. K., & Lippmann, S. (2015). Depression and Anxiety Following Early Pregnancy Loss: Recommendations for Primary Care Providers. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 17(1), 10.4088/PCC.14r01721.
  10. Forray, A., & Foster, D. (2015). Substance Use in the Perinatal Period. Current psychiatry reports, 17(11), 91.

  1. Wu, V., East, P., Delker, E., Blanco, E., Caballero, G., Delva, J., Lozoff, B., & Gahagan, S. (2019). Associations Among Mothers’ Depression, Emotional and Learning-Material Support to Their Child, and Children’s Cognitive Functioning: A 16-Year Longitudinal Study. Child development, 90(6), 1952–1968.
  2. Huntley, F., Wright, N., Pickles, A., Sharp, H., & Hill, J. (2017). Maternal mental health and child problem behaviours: disentangling the role of depression and borderline personality dysfunction. BJPsych open, 3(6), 300–305.
  3. Reed, R., Sharman, R., & Inglis, C. (2017). Women’s descriptions of childbirth trauma relating to care provider actions and interactions. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 17(1), 21.
  4. Ayers, S., Bond, R., Bertullies, S., & Wijma, K. (2016). The aetiology of post-traumatic stress following childbirth: a meta-analysis and theoretical framework. Psychological medicine, 46(6), 1121–1134.
  5. Kok, R., Thijssen, S., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Jaddoe, V. W., Verhulst, F. C., White, T., van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Tiemeier, H. (2015). Normal variation in early parental sensitivity predicts child structural brain development. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(10), 824–831.e1.
  6. Guardino, C. M., & Dunkel Schetter, C. (2014). Understanding pregnancy anxiety: Concepts, correlates, and consequences. Zero to Three. 34(4), 12-21.
  7. Rizzo, K. M., Schiffrin, H. H., & Liss, M. (2013). Insight into the parenthood paradox: Mental health outcomes of intensive mothering. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 22(5), 614-620.
  8. Grote, N. K., Bridge, J. A., Gavin, A. R., Melville, J. L., Iyengar, S., & Katon, W. J. (2010). A meta-analysis of depression during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction. Archives of general psychiatry, 67(10), 1012–1024.
  9. Paulson, J. F., & Bazemore, S. D. (2010). Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. JAMA, 303(19), 1961–1969.
  10. Buss, C., Davis, E. P., Muftuler, L. T., Head, K., & Sandman, C. A. (2010). High pregnancy anxiety during mid-gestation is associated with decreased gray matter density in 6-9-year-old children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(1), 141–153.
  11. Paulson, J. F., Dauber, S., & Leiferman, J. A. (2006). Individual and combined effects of postpartum depression in mothers and fathers on parenting behavior. Pediatrics, 118(2), 659–668.
  12. Goodman J. H. (2004). Paternal postpartum depression, its relationship to maternal postpartum depression, and implications for family health. Journal of advanced nursing, 45(1), 26–35.

  1. Osborne, L. M., Etyemez, S., Pinna, G., Alemani, R., Standeven, L. R., Wang, X. Q., & Payne, J. L. (2025). Correction: Neuroactive steroid biosynthesis during pregnancy predicts future postpartum depression: a role for the 3α and/or 3β-HSD neurosteroidogenic enzymes?. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 50(6), 1021.
  2. Wenzel, E. S., Frye, R., Roberson-Nay, R., & Payne, J. L. (2025). The neurobiology of postpartum depression. Trends in Neurosciences, 48(7), 469–482.
  3. Pawluski J. L. (2024). The parental brain, perinatal mental illness, and treatment: A review of key structural and functional changes. Seminars in perinatology, 48(6), 151951.
  4. Accortt, E., Mirocha, J., Zhang, D., Kilpatrick, S. J., Libermann, T., & Karumanchi, S. A. (2023). Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: biomarker discovery using plasma proteomics. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 229(2), 166.e1–166.e16.
  5. Payne, J. L., & Maguire, J. (2019). Pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in postpartum depression. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 52, 165-180.
  6. Walton, N., & Maguire, J. (2019). Allopregnanolone-based treatments for postpartum depression: Why/how do they work?. Neurobiology of stress, 11, 100198.
  7. Duarte-Guterman, P., Leuner, B., & Galea, L. A. M. (2019). The long and short term effects of motherhood on the brain. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 53, 100740.
  8. Swenson, C. W., DePorre, J. A., Haefner, J. K., Berger, M. B., & Fenner, D. E. (2018). Postpartum depression screening and pelvic floor symptoms among women referred to a specialty postpartum perineal clinic. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 218(3), 335.e1–335.e6.
  9. Pawluski, J. L., Lonstein, J. S., & Fleming, A. S. (2017). The Neurobiology of Postpartum Anxiety and Depression. Trends in neurosciences, 40(2), 106–120.

  1. Vora, V., Kanyal, S., Chauhan, A., Agarwal, P., & Sethi, Y. (2026). Cultural perceptions and social determinants of health in perinatal mental health: An obstetric‐psychiatric perspective. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 172(1), 137-148.
  2. Tamene, M., McKenzie-Sampson, S., Ahern, J., Bradshaw, P., Carmichael, S. L., & Mujahid, M. S. (2025). Structural racism and perinatal mental health–The role of racialized economic segregation. Social Science & Medicine.
  3. Daw, J. R., MacCallum-Bridges, C. L., & Admon, L. K. (2025). Trends and Disparities in Maternal Self-Reported Mental and Physical Health. JAMA Internal Medicine.
  4. Tanya Khemet Taiwo, Goode, K., P. Mimi Niles, Stoll, K., Malhotra, N., & Saraswathi Vedam. (2024). Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder and Reproductive Justice: Examining Unmet Needs for Mental Health and Social Services in a National Cohort. Health Equity, 8(1), 76–86.
  5. Aviv, E., Waizman, Y., Kim, E., Liu, J., Rodsky, E., & Saxbe, D. (2024). Cognitive household labor: gender disparities and consequences for maternal mental health and wellbeing. Archives of Women S Mental Health, 28.
  6. Ash, M. J., Livingston, M. D., Sales, J. M., & Woods-Jaeger, B. (2024). Mental Health Treatment Utilization and Unmet Mental Health Needs Among Black Reproductive-Age Women in the United States. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 75(11), 1092–1100.
  7. Tindall, J., Brown, M. J., & Hung, P. (2024). Mental Health Care Disparities Among US Pregnant Individuals in 2020–2021: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
  8. Haight, S. C., Daw, J. R., Martin, C. L., Sheffield-Abdullah, K., Verbiest, S., Pence, B. W., & Maselko, J. (2024). Racial And Ethnic Inequities In Postpartum Depressive Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Care In 7 US Jurisdictions. Health Affairs (Millwood, Va.), 43(4), 486–495.
  9. Beck C. T. (2023). Experiences of Postpartum Depression in Women of Color. MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing, 48(2), 88–95.
  10. Barnett, K. S., Banks, A. R., Morton, T., Sander, C., Stapleton, M., & Chisolm, D. J. (2022). “I just want us to be heard”: A qualitative study of perinatal experiences among women of color. Women’s Health (London, England), 18, 17455057221123439.
  11. Shuffrey, L. C., Thomason, M. E., & Brito, N. H. (2022). Improving Perinatal Maternal Mental Health Starts With Addressing Structural Inequities. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(5).
  12. Wenzel, E. S., Gibbons, R. D., O’Hara, M. W., Duffecy, J., & Maki, P. M. (2021). Depression and anxiety symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum in low-income Black and Latina women. Archives of Women’s Mental Health.

  1. Dumitriu, D., Lavallée, A., Riggs, J. L., Frosch, C. A., Barker, T. V., Best, D. L., Blasingame, B., Bushar, J., Charlot-Swilley, D., Erickson, E., Finkel, M. A., Fortune, B., Gillen, L., Martinez, M., Ramachandran, U., Sanders, L. M., Willis, D. W., & Shearman, N. (2023). Advancing early relational health: a collaborative exploration of a research agenda. Frontiers in pediatrics, 11, 1259022.
  2. Williams R. C. (2023). From ACEs to early relational health: Implications for clinical practice. Paediatrics & child health, 28(6), 377–393.
  3. Lansford J. E. (2022). Annual Research Review: Cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 63(4), 466–479.
  4. Blount, A. J., Adams, C. R., Anderson-Berry, A. L., Hanson, C., Schneider, K., & Pendyala, G. (2021). Biopsychosocial Factors during the Perinatal Period: Risks, Preventative Factors, and Implications for Healthcare Professionals. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(15), 8206.
  5. Narayan, A. J., Lieberman, A. F., & Masten, A. S. (2021). Intergenerational transmission and prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Clinical psychology review, 85, 101997.
  6. Narayan, A. J., Atzl, V. M., Merrick, J. S., Harris, W. W., & Lieberman, A. F. (2020). Developmental origins of ghosts and angels in the nursery: Adverse and benevolent childhood experiences. Adversity and resilience science, 1, 121-134.
  7. Sadler, L. S., Slade, A., Close, N., Webb, D. L., Simpson, T., Fennie, K., & Mayes, L. C. (2013). Minding the Baby: Enhancing reflectiveness to improve early health and relationship outcomes in an interdisciplinary home visiting program. Infant mental health journal, 34(5), 391–405.
  8. Lieberman, A. F., Padrón, E., Van Horn, P., & Harris, W. W. (2005). Angels in the nursery: The intergenerational transmission of benevolent parental influences. Infant mental health journal, 26(6), 504–520.
  9. Fraiberg, S., Adelson, E., & Shapiro, V. (1975). Ghosts in the nursery. A psychoanalytic approach to the problems of impaired infant-mother relationships. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 14(3), 387–421.

Research Requests

Maternal Mental Health NOW | Research

The research committee is looking for research participation opportunities to share with our members on the Maternal Mental Health NOW website. If you are involved with an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved research study focused on perinatal mental health, please email the following to [email protected]:

  1. Contact Info: University/College, Primary Contact Name & Email
  2. A high quality PDF of your research flyer (with IRB number) and logo (as applicable)
  3. A brief (2 sentence) description of the population you seek, e.g. pregnant women or mothers of 1-4 year olds

For an example, please click here. The committee will review your materials and let you know whether the project will be showcased on the website.

Participate in Research

Person holding and reading a book in a library

Current opportunities are linked below if you are interested in participating in local research studies. We ensure that all studies represented are certified by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and are suitable for our members.

Maternal Mental Health Now, however, does not endorse or financially support any of these studies and therefore has no vested interest.
Apply to participate at your own risk/benefit.

Research Participant Request: Study with Black fathers of African ancestry
Recruitment for a Study on Perinatal Suicidality
Latina Mothers: Participate in a postpartum mental health research study
Seeking participants for a dissertation on transgender healthcare
Expectant Black Mothers
Family Foundations ART Study
Doulas who work with trans clients
Research Study for African American Adult Daughters
Representation in Postpartum Eating-Disorder Research