Welcome to NCRP, an online, interactive curriculum designed to teach reproductive psychiatry to mental health professionals – either within an educational program or self-guided.

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Over 50% of psychiatric patients are women. Over 80% of women will have at least one pregnancy, and 50% of these are unplanned.

Yet psychiatrists in training are not required to have any education about the management of psychiatric illness in the perinatal period.

The mission of the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry is to advance knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders throughout the reproductive life span, to build a common foundation for education and training in this emerging field, and to inspire lifelong learning about reproductive psychiatry, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Visit our partner’s website to learn more about promoting perinatal mental health

CLASSROOM

The classroom materials are largely downloadable guides to be used in an interactive classroom exercise.

SELF-STUDY

The self-study materials are videos and interactive exercises to be completed directly on the website.

CME

Coming soon! The CME materials are short exams for each of the 14 topics.

Course Topics

Women’s Health Across the Lifespan

The Reproductive Life Cycle

This unit reviews the basic science of the reproductive life cycle, including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause, as well as the basic science of contraception and lactation. Classroom activities include a progressive case conference concerning a woman at different reproductive stages, a contraception case conference, and a conference about drug interations between contraceptives and psychotropics. The media module covers weight and body image in pregnancy and postpartum. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Infertility and Loss

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of emotional distress and psychiatric symptoms associated with infertility and reproductive loss. There are two self-study segments, one on biological aspects of infertility and loss, and another on epidemiology and important co-morbidities. Classroom activities include two separate case conferences, an integrative case focusing on infertility and its treatment, and a progressive case focusing on loss. The media module covers stress and infertility. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Premenstrual Mood Syndromes

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and its related syndromes, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual exacerbation of another mood disorder. Self-study segments include a detailed basic science update as well as an “ask-the-expert” video concerning treatment. Classroom activities include two case conferences, one for a patient with PMDD and one for a patient with premenstrual exacerbation of another mood disorder. The media module covers misconceptions in the media about the effects of hormonal birth control on mood and on premenstrual symptoms. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Perimenopause

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of psychiatric symptoms in the menopausal transition. Self-study segments include epidemiology, hormone replacement therapy, and alternative treatments, and the classroom activity is a detailed case conference including video interviews between patient and psychiatrist. The media module concerns media portrayals of hormone replacement therapy, including information on natural or bioidentical hormones. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 2 classroom hours for this module.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

Depressive Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of depressive disorders in pregnancy and postpartum, with an emphasis on learning to read the literature concerning risks of untreated illness vs. risks of medication. The self-study section has four short videos on important statistical concepts, which will also be useful for other units of the curriculum. Classroom activities include a “risk-risk” conversation between a patient and perinatal psychiatrist (including a video) and two additional case conferences. Progressive case conferences follow one patient through different stages OR present a second case to which learners must apply lessons learned from the first case. Integrative case conferences ask learners to integrate multiple perspectives into their understanding of the patient’s situation. The media module concerns media misinterpretations of the scientific literature about antidepressant safety in pregnancy. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in pregnancy and postpartum. Self-study segments include information about risk factors, polypharmacy, and the co-morbidity with autoimmune illness. There is one classroom session that is quite long and may require more than 60 minutes to complete. The media module concerns media portrayals of OCD and of thoughts of infant harm. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 1-3 classroom hours for this module.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in pregnancy and postpartum. The self-study segment offers an overview of management in pregnancy and postpartum. The classroom activity is a progressive case conference, and the media module concerns risks of stimulant medication. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 2 classroom hours for this module.

Bipolar Disorder

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of bipolar affective illness in pregnancy and postpartum. Self-study segments provide an overview of the illness as well as detailed information about the use of mood stabilizers and antispsychotics in pregnancy. Classroom activities include three separate case conferences focused on different time points in the peripartum – early and late pregnancy and postpartum (postpartum psychosis). The media module covers postpartum psychosis and infanticide. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This unit covers the myriad effects of trauma history on psychiatric illness in the perinatal period, including but not limited to PTSD. Self-study segments cover the management of trauma and abortion and trauma, and classroom activities include trauma management, intimate partner violence, and traumatic delivery. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Primary Psychotic Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of primary psychotic disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. This includes both pre-existing disorders and those that may arise for the first time in pregnancy, such as pseudocyesis. There are three self-study segments, covering ethics, psychopharmacology, and pseudocyesis, and one classroom activity (a case conference). The media module covers the role of psychosis in baby stealing and fetal harm. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 2 classroom hours for this module.

Anxiety Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of anxiety disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. The self-study segment provides an overview, and classroom activities include three case conferences: a “risk-risk” conversation between patient and perinatal psychiatrist concerning benzodiazepine use, and two separate case conferences, which may be combined in one classroom session. Progressive case conferences follow one patient through different stages OR present a second case to which learners must apply lessons learned from the first case. Integrative case conferences ask learners to integrate multiple perspectives into their understanding of the patient’s situation. The media module concerns media depictions of stress in pregnancy. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Substance Use Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of substance use disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. Four self-study segments include information about sex and gender differences in substance use disorders generally, as well as specifics about tobacco, cocaine, and methamphetamine use. Classroom activities include case conferences on both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, and the media module covers marijuana use in pregnancy. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Eating Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of eating disorders and the interaction of eating disorders with the female reproductive cycle. There are three self-study segments, with eating disorder basics, eating disorders and preconception and sexual health, and eating disorders and menopause. Classroom activities include a progressive case conference on eating disorders through the perinatal period and a “Family Feud” type exercise on the comorbidity of eating disorders and substance use disorders. Finally, there is a classroom activity on screening for eating disorders in the perinatal period, which can be combined with one of the other two modules. The media module covers pro-eating disorder sites. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

5-Hour Essentials

This mini-curriculum is designed for programs that have limited time to devote to reproductive psychiatry teaching and would like to have a balanced program without having to pick and choose among all of NCRP’s offerings. Please read the “Guide to Use” before downloading any of the materials; this gives details about the organization of materials and recommended order of completion.

“The National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry is an enormous step forward to provide a comprehensive educational program for health care professionals to improve care for pregnant and breastfeeding women with psychiatric disorders.”

Katherine L. Wisner, MD, Norman and Helen Asher Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University

CONTACT US

The National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry is a volunteer effort, and we welcome new volunteers! We look forward to hearing your questions, concerns, and new ideas.