Publications by authors named "Monica Sobral"

Purpose Of Review: To present the latest data on the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in peripartum depression (PPD), complemented by notes emerging from our clinical and research experience.

Recent Findings: TMS and tDCS show promising results to manage mild to moderate depressive symptoms in the peripartum period. Evidence of TMS efficacy during pregnancy and the postpartum comes from two small randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with encouraging but still inconsistent results.

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Background: Breastfeeding promotes children's health and is associated with positive effects to maternal physical and mental health. Uncertainties regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission led to worries experienced by women and health professionals which impacted breastfeeding plans. We aimed to investigate the impact of self-reported and country-specific factors on breastfeeding rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a potential treatment strategy across some psychiatric conditions. However, there is high heterogeneity in tDCS efficacy as a stand-alone treatment. To increase its therapeutic potential, researchers have begun to explore the efficacy of combining tDCS with psychological and pharmacological interventions.

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During the postpartum period, the paternal brain suffers extensive and complex neurobiological alterations, through the experience of father-infant interactions. Although the impact of such experience in the mother has been increasingly studied over the past years, less is known about the neurobiological correlates of fatherhood-that is, the alterations in the brain and other physiological systems associated with the experience of fatherhood. With the present study, we aimed to perform a scoping review of the available literature on the genetic, neuroendocrine, and brain correlates of fatherhood and identify the main gaps in the current knowledge.

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Cortical thickness has been increasingly studied in the context of structural-brain-behavior associations, such as anxiety; however, the literature is scattered across methods and research fields. This scoping review aims to summarize the available data concerning the association between cortical thickness and anxiety-related measures and identify the current research gaps. Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO/PsycARTICLES, Web of Science, OpenGrey and Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and reference lists of key studies.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the normal course of life, with measures to reduce the virus spread impacting motherhood expectations and, in particular, breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to review evidence regarding the impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding plans and how these relate to women's psychological outcomes. Searches were conducted on PubMed and Web of Science for studies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese between January 2020 and January 2021.

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