Essential papers in women’s mental health: an educational resource for physicians and trainees

Purpose of review – This article provides a high-yield, educational resource on Women’s Mental Health (WMH). By facilitating access to specialized psychiatric knowledge in a concise format, this annotated bibliography facilitates the widespread dissemination and uptake of essential WMH literature, supports medical training, and contributes to the delivery of evidence-based care. Recent findings – There is increasing recognition that medical providers must be prepared to identify and address the mental health needs of women during the perinatal period and throughout the reproductive lifespan. Despite this, there is a notable lack of formal WMH-related education in medical training. Summary – The WMH Special Interest Group of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry convened a workgroup to identify foundational WMH literature. Using expert nominations and a structured survey, 40 articles across 15 categories were evaluated for clinical importance and quality of scholarship. Five domains emerged as most relevant for trainee education: postpartum psychosis, risk–benefit decision-making, psychotropic use in pregnancy and lactation, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and substance use in pregnancy. Ten articles were identified as having the highest impact, with five additional articles included, reflecting the breadth of critical scholarship in the field. Clinical pearls were systematically developed and reviewed for consistency.