Mind Melds and Case Quests: Navigating Case Studies in Reproductive Health Together

Abstract: The consultation-liaison psychiatrist plays a critical role when addressing the complex interplay between mental health issues and medical conditions. Moreover, reproductive psychiatry has not been given sufficient emphasis in psychiatry residency programs, with program directors pointing to the scarcity of perinatal specialists as a reason for this gap (Hutner et al, 2021). This issue is more acute for patients from communities that have traditionally been underserved or overlooked by the healthcare system. Consequently, psychiatrists may encounter deficiencies in their understanding of reproductive psychiatry, leading to potential discomfort in handling cases pertaining to perinatal psychiatry. In this general session, our goal is to uncover key insights that facilitate the accurate diagnosis and effective management of these intricate cases.

In this highly interactive session, audience members will vote to explore branching pathways and different treatment options. We will use digital polling both to decide how each case progresses and also to evaluate participant comprehension of key learning objectives. The last session will be a live interactive discussion designed to foster an engaging dialogue about the complexities of women’s mental health. We will run a question-and-answer session to reflect on the case presentations, linking threads that run across the cases, while highlighting differences in approaching information-gathering across the life course.



Format:

--5 min: Dr. Sundararaj will introduce the workshop and review the goals of the session. She will also orient the audience to the use of digital polling and how the polling would be used to guide the discussion.

--20 min: Dr. Reza will present a case about a patient who is desiring to conceive, and is also considering utilizing nutraceuticals and supplements suggested to her to address her underlying dysphoria and anxiety, which had been heightened during her prior pregnancy.

--20 min: Dr. Cinderella will present a case involving a psychotic patient whose high risk pregnancy precluded transfer to most psychiatric inpatient units. .

--20 min: Dr. Baweja with present a case about a pregnant patient in the outpatient setting with history of bipolar disorder and medical marijuana use

--10 min: Dr. Sundararaj will coordinate an interactive discussion and question-and-answer session to reflect on the case presentations.


Conclusions:
Attendees will conclude the workshop with a deeper understanding of how to assess and treat complex mental health conditions in women. They will be armed with valuable diagnostic insights and clinical strategies to apply in their own practices, enhancing their capacity to support this population effectively.

Learning Objectives:

• Formulate plan for the management of complex psychiatric illness in the inpatient medical setting.
• Review the role of complementary medicine such as nutraceuticals and dietary supplements in perinatal psychiatry.
• Demonstrate risk-benefit discussion with patients regarding treatment of bipolar disorder in pregnancy.