Handbook of Perinatal Clinical Psychology

The book examines the major issues in perinatal clinical psychology with the presence of theoretical information and operational indications, through a biopsychosocial approach. The multiplicity of scientific information reported makes this book both a comprehensive overview on the major perinatal mental health disorders and illnesses, and a clinical guide. It covers perinatal clinical psychology through a journey of 15 chapters, putting the arguments on a solid theoretical basis and reporting multiple operational indications of great utility for daily clinical practice. It has well documented new evidence bases in the field of clinical psychology that have underpinned the conspicuous current global and national developments in perinatal mental health. As such, it is an excellent resource for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners - in fact, anyone and everyone who wishes to understand and rediscover, in a single opera, the current scientific and application scenario related to psychological health during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Rosa Maria Quatraro (PhD, PgD Clinic Psy) is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and specialist in clinical psychology. For over 20 years, she has carried out clinical, research, training, and supervision duties in the field of perinatal psychology and psychopathology. Pietro Grussu (PhD, PgD Clinic Psy) is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and specialist in clinical psychology. For over 30 years, he has carried out clinical and research duties in the field of perinatal psychology and psychopathology in the National Health Service and at Italian Universities.

Introduction; PART I: Stress; 1. Overview of perinatal maternal stress; 2. Fetal exposure to mother's distress: new frontiers in research and useful knowledge for daily clinical practice; PART II: Procreation, pregnancy and delivery; 3. 'A precipice in time' - reproductive biotechnology: psychosocial impact and unintended consequences; 4. Psychological impact of infertility and assisted reproduction; 5. Prenatal diagnosis: psychological impact and parents' experience in the presence of fetal anomalies; 6. Miscarriage and pregnancy loss; 7. Traumatic childbirth: the ever-expanding ripple efects; PART III: Postnatal period; 8. Beyond the blues: stress, emotional experiences of women, and intervention methods during the postpartum period; 9. Parental emotional experiences after newborn hospitalization; 10. Emotional and practical needs in postpartum women: the role of family and friend support and social networks; 11. Breastfeeding and weaning: parental well-being and psychological distress; PART IV: Risk of psychopathology and prevention; 12. Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in the perinatal period; 13. Risk factors for depression and anxiety during the perinatal period; 14. Screening and early identification of women at risk of perinatal psychopathology; 15. Postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorders, and mother-baby unit