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Department of Psychiatry

Our Commitment

We are committed to delivering outstanding clinical care, scientific discovery, training the next generation of investigators and clinicians, and informing policy in women’s reproductive mood disorders. This last objective demands continued advocacy for the health and well-being of women of all backgrounds, which has often been neglected.

History

The UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders is world renowned, with demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement in research, clinical care, and advocacy. Formally established in 2006 the center consolidated the prior work of Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody in Perinatal Psychiatry and Dr. Susan Girdler in PMDD at UNC, as well as Dr. David Rubinow’s work at the National Institute of Mental Health, who became the first Director of the Center upon his arrival to UNC as Department Chair (2006-2019), followed by Dr. Meltzer-Brody who serves as the current Director and Chair. A grant from the Foundation of Hope helped to create the infrastructure for a program that has, by all measures, been extremely successful.

We have the country’s only NIH training fellowship in Reproductive Psychiatry (NIH T32 grant), we have the country’s first Inpatient Perinatal Psychiatric Unit and we performed the first study of, and were the lead site for the neurosteroid brexanolone (Zulresso), the first and only FDA approved medication specifically for Postpartum Depression.

We are a national leader in advancing the understanding of Women’s Mood Disorders and have generated multiple high profile publications on the causes of and treatments for Perimenopausal Depression, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, and Perinatal Depression.

We have served as the leaders of national organizations at the forefront of clinical neuroscience, including the Marce Society, the Society of Biological Psychiatry, and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology

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Leadership

Samantha Meltzer Brody

“The UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders has a truly world-class team of clinicians and researchers who are passionate about our mission and dedicated to improving the lives of the patients we serve.”
Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH
Chair and Director, UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders

David Rubinow

“We believe that by caring for and studying women’s mood disorders, we will advance knowledge about mood dysregulation, reduce suffering, and help fact triumph over stereotype.  We believe our patients and their families deserve nothing less.”
David Rubinow, MD
Founding Director, UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders

Women’s Mood Disorders:
A Clinician’s Guide to Perinatal Psychiatry

Women's Mood DisordersDr. Liz Cox, MD, editorDr. Elizabeth Cox, MD, (editor) and the Women’s Mood Disorders team have been hard at work the past year developing a clinical guide to perinatal psychiatry. A number of critical topics in the treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are covered including evidence-based psychotherapy treatment, risk-benefit analysis of psychotropic use in pregnancy and lactation, and common presentations of depression, anxiety, and trauma. This guide will help educate and train future psychiatrists and OBGYNs in feeling confident and comfortable in assessing and treating pregnant women who suffer from PMADs.
“This has been such an exciting and rewarding project to be a part of. I am so incredibly grateful for all of the time, efforts and expertise offered by each of the authors, and so proud of the hard work and collaboration by our fabulous team in Women’s Mood Disorders here at UNC!” – Dr. Liz Cox, MD, editor

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