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Chapter 13 - Women’s Mental Health

from Section 3 - Contemporary Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2025

By
Katie Hazelgrove  and
Paola Dazzan
Edited by
Dawn N. Albertson ,
Derek K. Tracy ,
Dan W. Joyce  and
Sukhwinder S. Shergill
Dawn N. Albertson
Affiliation:
University of New Hampshire
Derek K. Tracy
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dan W. Joyce
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool
Sukhwinder S. Shergill
Affiliation:
Kent and Medway Medical School
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Summary

In this chapter we provide an introduction to research in a very crucial time for women’s mental health, the perinatal period, beginning with an overview of perinatal psychiatry and the importance of conducting research in this field. We discuss some of the key considerations in determining the quality of information in published studies, with a focus on factors that may affect perinatal psychiatric research, and present examples of published research demonstrating these key considerations. We then give an overview of the challenges and opportunities for perinatal psychiatric research. Finally, we present some of the emerging topics in this field and provide the reader with online resources where they can find out more about perinatal psychiatric research.

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Chapter
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Research Methods in Mental Health
A Comprehensive Guide
 , pp. 216 - 232
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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