TITLE:
Initiative to Improve the Health Outcomes of Those at Risk of Perinatal Depression: Referral Characteristics and Psychosocial Determinants
AUTHORS:
Mona Asghari-Fard, Ursula Hopper, My Trinh Ha, Valsamma Eapen
KEYWORDS:
Antenatal Depression, Routine Screening, Early Identification
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.6 No.8,
July
12,
2016
ABSTRACT: In Australia, perinatal depression affects 15% - 20%
of pregnant women. Depression does not go away on its own, getting help at early stages shown to be effective in treating
antenatal depression. Aim of this study is to assess and describe the screening
of women through the antenatal clinic and measure the outcome of services
provided (such as counselling, social assistance) for those at risk of depression,
in a general hospital setting in an ethnically diverse part of Sydney,
Australia. Data from 193 women were obtained through accessing the psychosocial
and screening assessments completed at the antenatal clinic between 2007 and
2008. Data regarding patients’ psychosocial characteristics, referrals and
interventions were also gathered from hospital records. Data revealed that
60.4% of women screened scored ≥10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
(EDPS) which is indicative of significant depressive symptomatology. Of these
women, 39.4% went on to receive a formal diagnosis. Women who indicated that
they had planned their pregnancies (47.2%) were significantly less likely to
report having major worries and stressors over the last 12 months (p Data showed while screening methods are
effective, regrettably a high proportion of women, despite presenting with “at
risk” symptomatology levels, do not engage in intervention programs. Further
research is required to explore the barriers in accessing both screening and
intervention services (particularly in a culturally diverse area such as this),
and how services can improve processes and patient participation.