Anxiety and depression. Diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy.

Anxiety and depression are common disorders that the obstetrician-gynecologist frequently encounters, and they often require consultation with mental health care professionals. Pregnancy offers an unusual challenge because many of the decisions made about the safety of certain drugs are educated guesses. Common sense dictates that no drug should be used unless a serious threat to the mother exists such as suicide. Preconceptional counseling and early referral to and from colleagues in mental health should help the obstetrician guide mother and fetus to a successful pregnancy outcome.