Initiative to Improve the Health Outcomes of Those at Risk of Perinatal Depression: Referral Characteristics and Psychosocial Determinants ()
Affiliation(s)
1Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
2Perinatal Mental Health Service, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
3Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South West Sydney (AUCS) ICAMHS, Mental Health Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
4School of Psychiatry & Ingham Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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 < 0.05) in comparison to those who indicated that their
pregnancies were unplanned. 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.
Share and Cite:
Asghari-Fard, M. , Hopper, U. , Ha, M. and Eapen, V. (2016) Initiative to Improve the Health Outcomes of Those at Risk of Perinatal Depression: Referral Characteristics and Psychosocial Determinants.
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
6, 463-472. doi:
10.4236/ojog.2016.68062.
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