A minority of women believe it is safe to take depression medication while they are pregnant, according to a new survey by the Society for Women's Health Research. The survey of 1,000 women was conducted by telephone in October; 500 family and general practitioners and internal medicine specialists also were queried. Only 11% of women said they thought it was safe to take a depression therapy during pregnancy, compared with 68% of physicians. Less educated and lower-income women and black women were more likely to believe it was unsafe to take a medication. Half of women said it was safe post partum, compared with 97% of physicians. Women falsely believed that depression was a normal part of the postpartum experience and also underestimated their risk for depression at specific life stages involving hormonal transitions, according to the society. In a statement, Sherry Marts, vice president of scientific affairs for the society, said the survey shows a disconnect between physicians' beliefs about depression and women's perceptions. “The health care community needs to do a better job communicating with women about depression,” Ms. Marts said.
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