The Routledge International Handbook of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders
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The perinatal period spans pregnancy through the first year postpartum and carries substantial risk for a range of mental health disorders. Clinicians, researchers, and students working in this area need resources that connect rigorous global evidence with practical clinical guidance. This handbook was written for exactly that purpose.
This volume brings together contributions from an international community of experts on the full spectrum of perinatal mental health disorders. It covers assessment, evidence-based treatment, cultural context, and underserved populations.
Whether used as a clinical reference, teaching text, or research resource, the handbook offers structured, research-grounded support for professionals working at the intersection of reproductive health and psychological care.
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The handbook is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats through major publishers and retailers.
Book Details
Title:The Routledge International Handbook of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders
Editor: Amy Wenzel, PhD, ABPP
Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Publication year: 2025
ISBN hardcover: 9781040041673
Subject areas: Perinatal psychology, women’s mental health, clinical psychology, psychiatry, reproductive health
Formats: Hardcover, paperback, ebook
What the Handbook Covers
Perinatal mental health disorders affect a significant proportion of pregnant and postpartum individuals worldwide, yet clinical training has not always reflected the full complexity of this field. This handbook addresses that gap through five organized sections, each built on current international research.
Context and Foundations
The opening section establishes the historical, biological, and psychological context that shapes perinatal mental health care. It covers:
Historical perspectives on how perinatal mental health disorders have been understood and treated
Psychological and biological mechanisms underlying vulnerability during the perinatal period
The role of relational and attachment factors in prenatal and postpartum wellbeing
Breastfeeding and its intersection with maternal mental health
Early child development outcomes linked to parental mental health
This foundational section gives clinicians and researchers a shared framework before moving to specific disorders and treatments.
Prenatal Mental Health Disorders
This section covers the range of mental health disorders that can emerge or intensify during pregnancy. Chapters address:
Prenatal depression and its distinguishing features from postpartum presentations
Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic, and specific phobias, during pregnancy
Eating disorders in the perinatal period, including how pregnancy changes their presentation
Substance misuse and its clinical management during pregnancy
Serious mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in pregnant individuals
Each chapter connects diagnostic clarity with assessment strategies and treatment considerations relevant to the prenatal context.
Postpartum Mental Health Disorders
The postpartum section examines the disorders most commonly associated with early parenthood. Coverage includes:
Postpartum depression, including risk factors, assessment tools, and treatment pathways
Postpartum anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety and panic disorder
Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder and intrusive thoughts
Postpartum PTSD, including birth trauma presentations
Postpartum eating disorders and body image concerns
Substance misuse in the postpartum period
Postpartum psychosis, a psychiatric emergency requiring specialized clinical response
Insomnia and sleep disturbance are both symptoms and maintaining factors
The section balances clinical depth with attention to differential diagnosis and the clinical judgment required in postpartum care.
Clinical Interventions
Effective intervention depends on selecting approaches matched to the individual's presentation, preferences, and circumstances. This section surveys the primary evidence-based treatments for perinatal mental health disorders, including:
Screening and assessment tools validated for prenatal and postpartum populations
Pharmacotherapy considerations during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Cognitive behavioral therapy for perinatal mental health, including structured CBT protocols adapted for the perinatal period
Interpersonal psychotherapy, which has strong empirical support for perinatal depression
Psychodynamic therapy and its application to relational concerns in new parenthood
Mindfulness-based interventions and their adaptation for pregnant and postpartum individuals
Internet-based and digital mental health interventions for perinatal populations
The chapter on cognitive behavioral therapy reflects Amy Wenzel's own clinical and scholarly contributions to CBT in the perinatal field.
Special Issues and Populations
Mental health care in the perinatal period extends well beyond a single demographic. This section addresses underrepresented and underserved groups and circumstances, including:
Paternal perinatal mental health and the specific challenges fathers face
2SLGBTQ+ individuals navigating pregnancy, parenthood, and mental health care
Infertility and its psychological toll, including grief and relationship strain
Pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and neonatal death
Mental health considerations for people of color in the perinatal system
Migrant and refugee women facing compounding stressors during the perinatal period
This section reflects the handbook's commitment to inclusive, globally informed clinical thinking.
Who This Book Is For
This handbook is designed for professionals and advanced students across the full range of disciplines involved in perinatal care:
Clinical psychologists and therapists treating pregnant and postpartum clients
Psychiatrists managing medication and complex cases in the perinatal period
Social workers providing support to new and expectant parents
Obstetricians, gynecologists, midwives, and nurses seeking mental health context
Graduate students in clinical psychology, counseling, and related fields
Faculty designing curricula in perinatal psychology or women's mental health
Researchers in reproductive psychiatry and perinatal psychology
Training institutes and continuing education programs in evidence-based practice
The handbook is also a useful reference for any provider making referral decisions for clients experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties.
About the Editor: Amy Wenzel, PhD, ABPP
Amy Wenzel is a psychologist, scholar, and clinician whose work has shaped the evidence base for cognitive behavioral therapy in perinatal psychology, suicide prevention, and complex clinical presentations. She has authored or edited more than 25 books and treatment manuals, and has contributed more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters to the literature on CBT and women's mental health.
Dr. Wenzel developed Therapeutic Relationship-Focused CBT (TRF-CBT) and has served in faculty, training, and editorial roles that reflect her commitment to advancing both clinical science and clinical practice. Her Bryn Mawr practice specializes in evidence-based psychotherapy, with a focus on anxiety, depression, perinatal distress, and related concerns.
Read more about Dr. Wenzel's biography.
Related Perinatal Mental Health Books
Amy Wenzel has written and edited several resources that complement this handbook. Readers working in perinatal psychology, women's mental health, or CBT may also find the following useful:
The Oxford Handbook of Perinatal Psychology: A scholarly reference covering perinatal psychology research and practice
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perinatal Distress: A practical treatment guide applying CBT to the perinatal period
Anxiety in Childbearing Women: Diagnosis and treatment of anxiety across the childbearing period
Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: A clinician and client resource on intrusive thoughts and postpartum OCD
Purchase the Handbook
The Routledge International Handbook of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.
If you are a clinician, educator, or researcher seeking structured, evidence-based guidance on perinatal mental health, this handbook offers the depth that clinical practice requires. To learn more about Dr. Wenzel's work or to inquire about training and consultation, contact the practice.
Explore More Books by Amy Wenzel
Amy Wenzel has authored and edited more than 25 books across perinatal psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, clinical training, and specialized populations. The titles below are organized by subject area to help you find the most relevant resources for your work or study.
Perinatal and Women's Mental Health
These books address the psychological needs of pregnant, postpartum, and childbearing individuals. They are suitable for clinicians, trainees, and researchers in perinatal psychology, obstetrics, nursing, and midwifery.
The Oxford Handbook of Perinatal Psychology: A comprehensive scholarly reference covering research and clinical practice across perinatal psychology. Covers attachment, maternal and paternal mental health, developmental outcomes, and evidence-based care.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perinatal Distress: A structured clinical guide applying CBT techniques to the distress that can arise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Covers assessment, case conceptualization, and session-by-session treatment.
Anxiety in Childbearing Women: A focused clinical resource on diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders in women across the childbearing period, from preconception through postpartum.
Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts, 2nd Edition: A clinician and client resource on intrusive thoughts in new parenthood, including postpartum OCD presentations, fear of harming the baby, and evidence-based CBT strategies for breaking the thought cycle.
Coping with Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss: Finding Perspective: A compassionate, evidence-informed resource for individuals and clinicians navigating the grief, trauma, and psychological complexity of pregnancy loss and infertility.
Tokens of Affection: A resource addressing the emotional and relational dimensions of perinatal loss, offering perspective for those who have experienced profound grief in the context of pregnancy and infant death.
CBT Practice, Techniques, and Clinical Decision-Making
These titles support clinicians seeking to deepen their practice of cognitive behavioral therapy across a range of presenting problems and clinical settings.
Therapeutic Relationship-Focused CBT: Amy Wenzel's most recent contribution to the CBT literature. TRF-CBT integrates the therapeutic relationship into structured cognitive behavioral treatment, addressing a recognized gap in standard CBT training. Essential reading for clinicians working with complex presentations.
Innovations in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Strategic Interventions for Creative Practice: A clinician-focused text presenting flexible, creative adaptations of CBT for cases where standard protocols require modification. Practical and grounded in clinical evidence.
Strategic Decision Making in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A guide to the judgment and decision-making processes that experienced CBT clinicians use. Addresses how to adapt evidence-based strategies to the realities of individual cases.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques and Strategies: A comprehensive technical reference covering the core CBT techniques used across disorders and populations, with guidance on when and how to apply each strategy.
Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A broad clinical and academic reference spanning the theory, research, and application of cognitive behavioral therapy across presenting problems and treatment contexts.
Evidence-Based Psychotherapy: Shared Decision-Making Toolkit for Mental Health Providers: A practical toolkit for clinicians using shared decision-making in psychotherapy. Supports collaborative treatment planning aligned with client values, preferences, and evidence-based options.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Beginners: An Experiential Learning Approach: Designed for trainees and students entering CBT practice, this text uses an experiential learning model to build foundational skills in cognitive and behavioral interventions.
Exploring Three Approaches to Psychotherapy: A comparative text examining cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and person-centered approaches to psychotherapy. Useful for students, educators, and clinicians interested in theoretical integration.
Specialized Clinical Populations
These titles address the application of CBT and evidence-based practice to populations with specific clinical needs.
Cognitive Therapy for Suicidal Patients: A clinically rigorous guide to applying cognitive therapy in the assessment and treatment of suicidal ideation and behavior. Grounded in Aaron Beck's cognitive model and Amy Wenzel's own contributions to suicide prevention research and practice.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Veterans and Military Servicemembers: A specialized treatment manual adapting CBT for depression in military populations, with attention to the unique stressors, culture, and clinical presentations common among veterans and active-duty servicemembers.
Group Cognitive Therapy for Addictions: A structured guide to delivering cognitive behavioral therapy in group format for clients with addiction and substance use disorders. Covers group dynamics, session structure, and evidence-based CBT techniques adapted for the group context.
Clinical Reference and Encyclopedic Resources
These volumes serve as authoritative reference works for clinicians, researchers, faculty, and graduate students seeking comprehensive coverage of psychological disorders, assessment, and treatment.
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A scholarly reference covering the full landscape of mood and anxiety disorders, including etiology, diagnosis, assessment, and evidence-based treatment. Suitable for academic libraries, training programs, and research settings.
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology: A comprehensive multi-volume reference work encompassing the breadth of clinical psychology, including psychopathology, assessment, intervention, and professional practice across populations and settings.
To explore the full collection, visit the books page or contact the practice to discuss training, consultation, or speaking engagements related to Amy Wenzel's clinical and scholarly work.
