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May 11, 2006

Pregnancy Depression Study

A Stanford University study is testing whether massage and acupuncture help relieve depression in pregnant women.

While antidepressants are commonly prescribed to people suffering from depression, there's no definitive evidence on whether the medications are safe for pregnant women and fetuses.

Both Manber and Lyell said it's critical to offer alternatives for depressed women who forego medication, and they launched their study to identify safe therapies. And there's much anecdotal information about the positive effects of massage for people who suffer from depression.

Interested in participating in the study? To be eligible, volunteers must be experiencing depression, medically stable and between 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. They cannot receive any concurrent treatment for depression while in the study. Interested women should call (650) 723-5886 for additional information. http://www.stanford.edu

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at May 11, 2006 9:00 AM