Psychosocial assessment by phone for high-scoring patients taking the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: communication pathways and strategies.

The well-documented risks associated with perinatal depression provide a strong argument for universal screening. However, uncertainty about what to do with findings is a significant barrier to implementing screenings where obstetric care is provided. Based on experience with a comprehensive screening program, we describe a protocol for those critical communication pathways that encourage a dynamic phone exchange between a mental health caller and the patient who has scored in the high range on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. In addition, we present guidelines for developing an action plan for addressing intervention needs and closing the feedback loop to the original administrators of the scale.