ABSTRACT
Postpartum Support International provides training for professionals and supports families who experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The purpose of this article is to describe Postpartum Support International, which was founded in 1987 to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional difficulties women experience during and after pregnancy. We recommend strategies with which health care professionals can support families, reduce stigma, and offer resources for treatment and support.
Subject(s)
Depression, Postpartum/psychology , Depression, Postpartum/therapy , Health Education , Health Personnel/education , Psychosocial Support Systems , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Female , Health Resources/economics , Humans , Internationality , Nurse's Role , Patient Education as Topic/organization & administration , Postpartum Period , Pregnancy , Program Development , Program Evaluation , Social Stigma , United StatesABSTRACT
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions encountered by women of reproductive age. When left untreated, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have profound adverse effects on women and their children, ranging from increased risk of poor adherence to medical care, exacerbation of medical conditions, loss of interpersonal and financial resources, smoking and substance use, suicide, and infanticide. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with increased risks of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and are recognized as a significant patient safety issue. In 2015, the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care convened an interdisciplinary work group to develop an evidence-based patient safety bundle to address maternal mental health. The focus of this bundle is perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The bundle is modeled after other bundles released by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care and provides broad direction for incorporating perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, intervention, referral, and follow-up into maternity care practice across health care settings. This commentary provides information to assist with bundle implementation.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Anxiety/therapy , Depression/therapy , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Depressive Disorder/therapy , Female , Humans , PregnancyABSTRACT
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions encountered by women of reproductive age. When left untreated, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have profound adverse effects on women and their children, ranging from increased risk of poor adherence to medical care, exacerbation of medical conditions, loss of interpersonal and financial resources, smoking and substance use, suicide, and infanticide. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with increased risks of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and are recognized as a significant patient safety issue. In 2015, the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care convened an interdisciplinary workgroup to develop an evidence-based patient safety bundle to address maternal mental health. The focus of this bundle is perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The bundle is modeled after other bundles released by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care and provides broad direction for incorporating perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, intervention, referral, and follow-up into maternity care practice across health care settings. This commentary provides information to assist with bundle implementation.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/therapy , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/therapy , Obstetrics , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications/therapy , Anxiety/psychology , Clinical Protocols , Consensus , Continuity of Patient Care , Depression/psychology , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Humans , Mass Screening , Medical History Taking , Obstetrics/methods , Obstetrics/organization & administration , Patient Education as Topic , Perinatal Care/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions encountered by women of reproductive age. When left untreated, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have profound adverse effects on women and their children, ranging from increased risk of poor adherence to medical care, exacerbation of medical conditions, loss of interpersonal and financial resources, smoking and substance use, suicide, and infanticide. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with increased risks of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and are recognized as a significant patient safety issue. In 2015, the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care convened an interdisciplinary workgroup to develop an evidence-based patient safety bundle to address maternal mental health. The focus of this bundle is perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The bundle is modeled after other bundles released by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care and provides broad direction for incorporating perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening, intervention, referral, and follow-up into maternity care practice across health care settings. This commentary provides information to assist with bundle implementation.
Subject(s)
Anxiety , Depression , Maternal Health/standards , Mental Health/standards , Pregnancy Complications , Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/prevention & control , Consensus , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/prevention & control , Evidence-Based Practice/methods , Evidence-Based Practice/organization & administration , Female , Humans , Mass Screening/organization & administration , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications/prevention & control , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Quality ImprovementABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To provide a profile of women suffering from major postpartum depression as assessed by the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS). DESIGN: A secondary analysis conducted on a portion of the data collected from an earlier psychometric testing of the PDSS. SETTING: Private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area of a marriage and family therapist specializing in perinatal mood disorders. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-three women who were diagnosed with major postpartum depression. INTERVENTION: Each mother completed the PDSS followed by a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnostic interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Seven dimensions of postpartum depression: sleeping/eating disturbances, anxiety/insecurity, emotional lability, mental confusion, loss of self, guilt/shame, and suicidal thoughts as measured by the PDSS. RESULTS: Scores on all seven dimensions of the PDSS were elevated. The three top dimensions were emotional lability, mental confusion, and anxiety/insecurity. The mean total PDSS score of 120 was well beyond the recommended cutoff score of 80 for a positive screen for major postpartum depression. CONCLUSION: Clinicians who come in contact with new mothers need to be alert to the range of possible symptoms that postpartum depressed mothers may experience so that these women are not left to suffer in silence.
