Anxiety in Childbearing Women: Diagnosis and Treatment

Nearly all new mothers experience some apprehension about the transition to parenthood, but in some, symptoms become severe and disturbing. New research suggests that during the perinatal period—which includes pregnancy and the first year postpartum—anxiety disorders can be more common than depression. Amy Wenzel describes the main types of perinatal anxiety and the various ways in which they are expressed in women, as well as approaches for assessment and treatment. All of the chapters draw extensively from the research literature, and engaging case studies bring the material to life throughout the book. This volume will be a tremendous resource for clinical psychologists, counselors, obstetricians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, and others who work with pregnant and postpartum women, as well as researchers and graduate students in any of these fields.