Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program - Center for Women's Mood Disorders

The Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program specializes in mood and anxiety disorders that occur during pregnancy and postpartum. The program is co-directed by Mary Kimmel, MD, and Crystal Schiller, PhD, and our mission is to provide state-of-the-art clinical care, research, and support groups to address the needs of women during this vulnerable time.

Learn more about postpartum depression

Perinatal Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics

Our outpatient clinic locations in both Chapel Hill and Raleigh provide assessment and treatment, including options for psychotherapy and medication for women with depression or anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. UNC physicians, nurse practitioners and psychologists work with nurses, midwives, counselors, and social workers in the community to help create the best plan for managing symptoms and fostering a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period.

Our office locations include Vilcom Center in Chapel Hill and locations at Rex Hospital and WakeMed North Hospital in Raleigh. To make an appointment at one of our clinic locations, please contact us.

Additional Clinic Location
The Perinatal Psychiatry Program is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Cox, MD, who is now seeing patients at Wake Med North in Raleigh. Dr. Cox is a graduate of the UNC Psychiatry Residency Program and has clinical expertise in treating women’s mood and anxiety disorders, as well as other psychiatric disorders, during time periods of hormonal fluctuation and change (pregnancy, postpartum, menstruation, menopause and infertility). For more information about our Wake Med North clinic or to book an appointment with Dr. Cox, please contact us.

If you feel you have one of the following concerns, please schedule an appointment.

pregnant storm Depression during Pregnancy
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
Postpartum Psychosis
Infertility
Pregnancy loss

Midlife Women’s Mood Disorders Clinic

The Department of Psychiatry has launched a new Midlife Women’s Mood Clinic. The menopausal transition can be accompanied by physical and emotional symptoms related to hormone changes occurring during this time, and these symptoms can impact daily functioning and quality of life for some women. The goal of this new service is to support women and their providers who are seeking further understanding of whether the hormonal changes of menopause may be playing a role in their current symptoms.

The clinic provides specialized consultations which include a reproductive and psychiatric evaluation as well as discussion of recommendations for the management of hormonally associated mood and anxiety symptoms. These consultations can last between 1-4 visits and will include collaboration with the referring provider. The team consists of both psychiatrists and clinical psychologists that specialize in women’s mood changes during the menopausal transition. Brief, targeted psychotherapy services are available. More information can be found by calling 984-974-5217. Learn more here

Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit

The Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit is directed by Dr. Mary Kimmel. The Inpatient program provides specialized treatment and addresses the needs of women suffering from serious perinatal mood conditions. For more information, please see the Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit page.

Perinatal Research Studies

UNC researchers within the Department of Psychiatry are seeking participants for several research studies investigating prenatal and postpartum depression. For details, please see our list of research studies.