TY - JOUR
AU - P. Schuetze
A1 - 
AB - Maternal mental health during pregnancy interacts with substance use, exacerbating risks for adverse developmental outcomes in offspring. This review synthesizes evidence on the prevalence and co-occurrence of prenatal mental health and substance use, mechanisms linking the two, consequences for maternal and child health, screening and treatment strategies, and system-level policy implications. Key themes include the high prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, elevated rates of substance use among pregnant women with mental illness, synergistic effects of combined exposures on developmental outcomes, and substantial barriers to appropriate treatment. Effective practices emphasize universal screening, trauma-informed and nonpunitive approaches, and integrated behavioral health and substance use treatment in perinatal settings. Future research should identify causal pathways from prenatal risk to child outcomes using longitudinal designs with diverse samples, examine culturally responsive interventions to mitigate disparities, and should test scalable models that provide both mental health and substance use services in perinatal care.
AD - Department of Psychology, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY, United States.
AN - 42389027
BT - Front Glob Womens Health
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
DO - 10.3389/fgwh.2026.1744391
DP - NLM
ET - 20260617
JF - Front Glob Womens Health
LA - eng
N2 - Maternal mental health during pregnancy interacts with substance use, exacerbating risks for adverse developmental outcomes in offspring. This review synthesizes evidence on the prevalence and co-occurrence of prenatal mental health and substance use, mechanisms linking the two, consequences for maternal and child health, screening and treatment strategies, and system-level policy implications. Key themes include the high prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, elevated rates of substance use among pregnant women with mental illness, synergistic effects of combined exposures on developmental outcomes, and substantial barriers to appropriate treatment. Effective practices emphasize universal screening, trauma-informed and nonpunitive approaches, and integrated behavioral health and substance use treatment in perinatal settings. Future research should identify causal pathways from prenatal risk to child outcomes using longitudinal designs with diverse samples, examine culturally responsive interventions to mitigate disparities, and should test scalable models that provide both mental health and substance use services in perinatal care.
PY - 2026
SN - 2673-5059
SP - 1744391
ST - Maternal prenatal mental health and substance Use: a review of prevalence, mechanisms, outcomes, and interventions
T1 - Maternal prenatal mental health and substance Use: a review of prevalence, mechanisms, outcomes, and interventions
T2 - Front Glob Womens Health
TI - Maternal prenatal mental health and substance Use: a review of prevalence, mechanisms, outcomes, and interventions
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.3389/fgwh.2026.1744391
VL - 7
VO - 2673-5059
Y1 - 2026
ER -