Read Our Latest Psychobabble newsletter: Most people do not know where to turn when sexual problems creep up. Dr. Marelize Swart, B.C. Registered Psychologist # 1615 and AASECT Board Certified Sex Therapist, has written this months’ Psychobabble Newsletter where she outlines some of the common female sexual concerns.

 Teenage pregnancy is widely recognized to be a major public health concern. These young mothers face many life challenges and they have an increased risk for becoming depressed. How might the behavior of these young mothers be related to later psychiatric or behavioral problems in some of their offspring? A new study being published in Biological Psychiatryon September 15th suggests an association between a history of depression in the mothers, a particular style of mothering, “maternal over-control”, and increased stress reactivity of their infants. [continue reading…]

Women and men appear to respond differently to the same biochemical manipulation
Women and men appear to respond differently to the same biochemical manipulation. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders, and it is also one of the most studied. It is already known that reduced serotonin transmission contributes to the pathophysiology, or functional changes, associated with MDD and most of today’s most popular antidepressants block the serotonin “uptake site”, also known as the transporter, in the brain. It is also known that people with MDD are frequently found to have impaired impulse control. A new study being published in the September 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry now reports on important sex and genetic differences in the way that men and women react to reductions in serotonin function, specifically in terms of their mood and impulsivity. [continue reading…]