A systematic review on the acceptability of perinatal depression screening

Combining the Antenatal Risk Questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in Early Pregnancy in Danish Antenatal Care-A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Pregnant women with a history of mental disorders, neglect, or low social support are at increased risk of mental health problems. It is crucial to identify psychosocial risk factors in early pregnancy to reduce the risk of short- and long-term health consequences for mother and child. The Antenatal Risk Questionnaire has been found acceptable as a psychosocial screening tool among pregnant women in Australia, but it has not been tested in a Scandinavian context. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of pregnant women when using the Antenatal Risk Questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as part of a model to identify psychosocial vulnerabilities in pregnancy in Denmark. We conducted individual interviews (n = 18) and used thematic analysis. We identified two main themes: (1) Feeling heard and (2) An occasion for self-reflection. Overall, the pregnant women deemed the online ANRQ/EPDS acceptable as a screening tool. The screening model provided a feeling of being heard and provided an occasion for self-reflection about mental health challenges related to pregnancy and motherhood. However, some women expressed that the screening raised concerns and fear of the consequences of answering honestly. A non-judgmental, open, emphatic, and reassuring approach by clinicians may help reduce stigma.

Are midwives trained to recognise perinatal depression symptoms? Results of MAMA (MAternal Mood Assessment) cross-sectional survey in Italy

PURPOSE

To assess the knowledge, clinical experience, and attitudes of Italian midwives toward perinatal depression (PND) and to explore how these factors impact the quality of care.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 152 midwives employed in public hospitals across Italy. The questionnaire covered a range of topics, including demographic data, professional experience, knowledge of PND symptoms, risk factors, and clinical management, as well as communication skills and personal experiences with PND cases.

RESULTS

A concerning 76.3% of midwives displayed inadequate knowledge of PND based on current scientific literature. Those with a more comprehensive understanding were notably more confident in their practice, expressing significantly fewer apprehensions about communicating with mothers (25.8% vs 74.2%) and lesser concerns about the mothers' future well-being (38.9% vs 62.95%). The survey results also emphasised the midwives' call for specialised guidelines and formal training in PND management and underscored the value of communication skills, continuity of care, and family engagement in supporting affected mothers.

CONCLUSION

This inaugural study sheds light on the current state of knowledge and attitudes among Italian midwives regarding PND. It pinpoints crucial areas for educational enhancement and practice improvement, suggesting that elevated levels of midwife expertise in PND could significantly elevate the standard of care and expedite early diagnosis and treatment.

Women's awareness of perinatal mental health conditions and the acceptability of being asked about mental health in two regions in India: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Mental health conditions are common during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. Early detection allows timely support and treatment to be offered, but identifying perinatal mental health conditions may be challenging due to stigma and under-recognition of symptoms. Asking about symptoms of mental health conditions during routine antenatal and postnatal appointments can help to identify women at risk. This study explores women's awareness of perinatal mental health conditions, their views on the acceptability of being asked about mental health and any preference for specific assessment tools in two regions in India.

METHODS

Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant, post-partum and non-perinatal women in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh (northern India) and Bengaluru, Karnataka (southern India). Settings included a hospital antenatal clinic and obstetric ward, Anganwadi Centres and Primary Health Centres. FGDs were facilitated, audio-recorded and transcribed. Narratives were coded for emerging themes and analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Seven FGDs including 36 participants were conducted. Emerging themes were: manifestations of and contributors to mental health conditions; challenges in talking about mental health; and the acceptability of being asked about mental health. Difficult familial relationships, prioritising the needs of others and pressure to have a male infant were cited as key stressors. Being asked about mental health was generally reported to be acceptable, though some women felt uncomfortable with questions about suicidality. No preference for any specific assessment tool was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Women face many stressors during the perinatal period including difficult familial relationships and societal pressure to bear a male infant. Being asked about mental health was generally considered to be acceptable, but questions relating to suicidality may be challenging in a community setting, requiring sensitivity by the interviewer. Future studies should assess the acceptability of mental health assessments in 'real world' antenatal and postnatal clinics and explore ways of overcoming the associated challenges in resource-constrained settings.

Perinatal depression screening in community pharmacy: Exploring pharmacists' roles, training and resource needs using content analysis

BACKGROUND

Perinatal depression (PND) screening is often recommended in primary care settings, which includes the community pharmacy setting. However, there is limited research exploring pharmacists' perspectives on their roles in screening for perinatal mental illness.

AIM

This study aimed to explore pharmacists' views of pharmacists' roles in PND screening, as well as training and resource needs for PND screening in community pharmacy settings.

METHOD

A questionnaire including three open-ended questions focusing on pharmacists' perspectives of their role in PND screening, their training, and resource needs in this area, was disseminated to pharmacists across Australia via professional organisations and social media. Each open-ended question was separately analysed by inductive content analysis. Subcategories were deductively mapped to the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

RESULTS

Responses (N = 149) from the first open-ended question about pharmacists' roles in PND screening resulted in three categories (PND screening in primary care settings will support the community, community pharmacy environment, and system and policy changes) and ten subcategories. Responses to question two on training needs (n = 148) were categorised as: training content, training length, and training delivery while responses about resource needs (n = 147) fell into three categories: adapting community pharmacy operating structures, pharmacist-specific resources, and consumer-specific resources.

CONCLUSION

While some pharmacists were accepting of a role in PND screening due to pharmacists' accessibility and positive relationships with consumers, others had concerns regarding whether PND screening was within pharmacists' scope of practice. Further training and resources are needed to facilitate pharmacists' roles in PND screening, referral and care.

Community pharmacists' acceptability of pharmacist-delivered depression screening for older adults: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Late-life depression often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated, affecting the quality of life of older adults. Pharmacists are well-placed to identify older adults who may be at risk of depression by using appropriate screening tools.

AIM

To explore community pharmacists' acceptability of performing late-life depression screening in Australian community pharmacies.

METHOD

Semi-structured interviews with community pharmacists were conducted to gauge their perceptions regarding delivering depression screening services for older adults. Data analysis was conducted using an iterative, inductive approach. Key themes were identified, which were further explored and divided into subthemes. Subthemes were categorised as either barriers or facilitators. Each subtheme was mapped to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour model by classifying whether they impacted pharmacists' capability, opportunity, or motivation regarding depression screening.

RESULTS

Fifteen pharmacists were interviewed, 12 of whom were female and 11 of whom practised in a metropolitan area. Four key themes were identified including: training needs, environmental factors, pharmacists' roles, and organisational support, which were further divided into 13 subthemes. Three subthemes were mapped to Capability, seven to Opportunity and three to Motivation. Barriers included lack of resources and lack of remuneration, while facilitators included training, pharmacists' accessibility, and rapport with consumers.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study demonstrate that while community pharmacists found depression screening for older adults in community pharmacies to be an acceptable service, there remains a need for the development of funding schemes and standardised guidelines for pharmacist-delivered depression screening for older adults.

A conceptual framework and exploratory model for health and social intervention acceptability among African adolescents and youth

Intervention acceptability has become an increasingly key consideration in the development, evaluation and implementation of health and social interventions. However, to date this area of investigation has been constrained by the absence of a consistent definition of acceptability, comprehensive conceptual frameworks disaggregating its components, and few reliable assessment measures. This paper aims to contribute to this gap, by proposing a conceptual framework and exploratory model for acceptability with a specific priority population for health and developmental interventions: adolescents and youth in Africa. We document our multi-staged approach to model development, comprising both inductive and deductive components, and both systematic and interpretative review methods. This included thematic analyses of respective acceptability definitions and findings, from 55 studies assessing acceptability of 60 interventions conducted with young people aged 10-24 in (mainly Southern and Eastern) Africa over a decade; a consideration of these findings in relation to Sekhon et al.'s Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA); a cross-disciplinary review of acceptability definitions and models; a review of key health behavioural change models; and expert consultation with interdisciplinary researchers. Our proposed framework incorporates nine component constructs: affective attitude, intervention understanding, perceived positive effects, relevance, perceived social acceptability, burden, ethicality, perceived negative effects and self-efficacy. We discuss the rationale for the inclusion and definition of each component, highlighting key behavioural models that adopt similar constructs. We then extend this framework to develop an exploratory model for acceptability with young people, that links the framework components to each other and to intervention engagement. Acceptability is represented as an emergent property of a complex, adaptive system of interacting components, which can influence user engagement directly and indirectly, and in turn be influenced by user engagement. We discuss opportunities for applying and further refining or developing these models, and their value as a point of reference for the development of acceptability assessment tools.

Evaluation of a training program to support the implementation of a community pharmacist-led support service for people living with severe and persistent mental illness

BACKGROUND

With appropriate training, community pharmacists can support people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) by identifying and managing medication-related issues and physical health concerns. The Bridging the Gap between Physical and Mental Illness in Community Pharmacy (PharMIbridge) randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested the impact of an individualized, pharmacist-led support service for people living with SPMI.

OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate the impact of the PharMIbridge training program on pharmacy participants' knowledge and confidence, as well as stigma and attitudes, in relation to supporting, and providing services to, people living with SPMI; compared to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training alone.

METHODS

Pharmacy staff (n = 140) from 55 community pharmacies across four RCT regions attended face-to-face training. Both intervention group (IG) and comparator group (CG) participants received MHFA training while IG participants received additional PharMIbridge training, involving role-plays and mental health consumer educators (MHCEs). A questionnaire including validated instruments was administered at baseline, after training and after 12 months. Comparative analyses included paired t tests and mixed between/within analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

Pre and post-training surveys were completed by 136 participants, most of which were pharmacists. Both IG and CG participants had significant reductions in stigma (P < 0.001) post-training. IG participants' confidence and knowledge regarding metabolic monitoring significantly improved compared to CG (P < 0.001). IG participants were significantly more confident and comfortable in providing medication counseling, compared to CG participants (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MHFA training reduced participants' stigma toward mental health. However, the purpose-designed PharMIbridge training program provided pharmacists with additional knowledge and skills to confidently support the physical health care needs of people living with SPMI. The inclusion of role-plays and MHCEs allowed pharmacists to self-reflect and practice skills in safe, supportive environments. Future studies should continue to involve MHCEs in pharmacy training and explore whether these improvements are sustainable.

Perinatal Women's Views of Pharmacist-Delivered Perinatal Depression Screening: A Qualitative Study

Internationally, 20% of women experience perinatal depression (PND). Healthcare providers including general practitioners and midwives are critical in providing PND screening and support; however, the current workforce is unable to meet growing demands for PND care. As accessible and trusted primary healthcare professionals, pharmacists could provide PND care to complement existing services, thereby contributing to early detection and intervention. This study aimed to explore perinatal women's views of community pharmacist-delivered PND screening and care, with a focus on their attitudes towards and acceptability of PND screening implementation in community pharmacy. Semi-structured interviews with women (n = 41) were undertaken, whereby interview data were transcribed verbatim and then inductively and thematically analysed. Five overarching themes emerged; "patient experience with existing PND support and screening services"; "familiarity with pharmacists' roles"; "pharmacist visibility in PND screening care"; "patient-pharmacist relationships" and "factors influencing service accessibility". Themes and subthemes were mapped to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Findings highlight participants' generally positive attitudes towards community pharmacist-delivered PND screening and care, and the potential acceptability of such services provided pharmacists are trained and referral pathways are established. Addressing perceived barriers and facilitators would allow community pharmacist-delivered PND screening and care to support existing PND care models.

Barriers and enablers to postpartum depression and anxiety screening: A qualitative study of Victorian maternal and child health nurses' practices

In Victoria, Australia, Maternal and Child Health nurses (MCHNs) play a key role in facilitating the timely identification of Postnatal Depression and Anxiety (PNDA). Understanding MCHNs' screening practices, and the factors which impact them, is central to ensuring that future screening policy agendas are evidence-based and able to support MCHNs in carrying out this critical work. Yet, little is known about this subject. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of MCHNs' screening practices, and the factors which impact them. Qualitative descriptive design with semi-structured interviews were used. Participants were MCHNs who had been practicing for a minimum of 6 months and regularly saw new mothers. Purposeful sampling was used to facilitate diversity across participant characteristics. Twelve MCHNs were interviewed between March and May 2021. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns across our data. Qualitative content analysis was then used to identify issues which were most emphasised by MCHNs. Two themes were identified. Theme one, 'variations in screening practices', pertained to MCHNs' various screening practices (i.e., who, when, how) and the factors which influence them. Theme two, 'systemic barriers hinder equitable screening', pertained to factors which hindered equitable screening practices. Results indicate that systemic barriers contribute to inconsistent and inequitable screening practices, with women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds less likely to be screened in line with best practice. Our findings emphasise an urgent need for MCHNs to be allocated with the resources required to screen all women equally, regardless of their cultural background.

Stakeholders' Acceptability of Pharmacist-Led Screening in Community Pharmacies: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Community pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare providers. Community pharmacist-led screening may facilitate the early detection of illnesses/medical risk factors, optimizing health outcomes. However, it is important to assess the acceptability of screening services to ensure uptake by key stakeholders. The aim of this review was to explore the acceptability of community pharmacist-led screening by all stakeholders (i.e., patients, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals) and identify the methods used to evaluate the acceptability of screening.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Scopus in April 2020 since inception. Studies that explored the acceptability of pharmacist-led screening for any risk factor/medical condition(s) within community pharmacies were included.

RESULTS

A total of 44 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 17 studies identified community pharmacies as appropriate screening locations. Seven studies reported that patients were comfortable with participating in pharmacist-led screening. Eight studies explored acceptability from the perspective of medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals, with 6 reporting high recommendation acceptance rates and/or acceptability of pharmacist-led screening. Barriers to pharmacist-led screening included time and privacy constraints, whereas adequate remuneration was considered an important enabler.

DISCUSSION

Community pharmacist-led screening appears to be acceptable to patients, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. However, no uniform psychometrically sound measure of acceptability was used consistently across studies, rendering comparisons difficult and showing the need for future research exploring the psychometric properties of acceptability measures. Findings, including barriers and enablers to pharmacist-led screening, are important to consider when providing screening services in community pharmacies.

Implementing a Perinatal Depression Screening in Clinical Routine: Exploring the Patient's Perspective

Introduction Perinatal depression (PND) is a frequently observed mental disorder, showing a prevalence of up to 20% and resulting in unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. Targeted screening for PND offers the potential to identify and treat undiagnosed cases and help prevent its deleterious consequences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate participants' personal attitudes and acceptance of a routine screening program for PND in pregnancy care, identify any potential underlying factors, and appraise the general perspective on perinatal mental health problems. Methods In total, 732 women in their second trimester of pregnancy took part in a PND screening program that was incorporated in routine prenatal care using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and completed a web-based survey on screening acceptance. Results Participants viewed PND screening as useful (78.7%, n = 555/705), especially in terms of devoting attention to perinatal mental health problems (90.1%, n = 630/699), easy to complete (85.4%, n = 606/710), and without feelings of discomfort (88.3%, n = 628/711). Furthermore, women with previous or current mental health issues rated the usefulness of screening significantly higher, as did women with obstetric risks (p < 0.01 - p = 0.04). The final regression model explained 48.4% of the variance for screening acceptance. Conclusion Patient acceptance for PND screening was high in our study cohort, supporting the implementation of screening programs in routine pregnancy care with the potential to identify, sensitize, and treat undiagnosed patients to reduce stigmatization and offer access to tailored dedicated PND care programs.

Implementation of the ‘Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale’ across primary health care services in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: A mixed methods assessment

The Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale (KMMS) was co-designed with Aboriginal women and healthcare professionals to improve culturally appropriate screening practices for perinatal depression and anxiety. This paper describes the implementation of the KMMS across the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia from January 2018 to December 2021. We used the Dynamic Sustainability Framework to progress the implementation and assess at the intervention, practice setting and ecological system level using a mixed methods approach to analyse implementation. Rates of administration and results of screening were described using a retrospective audit of electronic medical records. Analyses of KMMS training registry, stakeholder engagement and sustainability initiatives were descriptive. KMMS acceptability was assessed using qualitative descriptive approaches to analyse patient feedback forms (n = 39), healthcare professional surveys (n = 15) and qualitative interviews with healthcare professionals (n = 6). We found a significant increase in overall recorded perinatal screening (pre-implementation: 30.4% v Year 3: 46.5%, P < 0.001) and use of the KMMS (pre-implementation: 16.4% v Year 3: 46.4%, P < 0.001). There was improved fidelity in completing the KMMS (from 2.3% to 61.8%, P < 0.001), with 23.6% of women screened recorded as being at increased risk of depression and anxiety. Most healthcare professionals noted the high levels of perinatal mental health concerns, stress, and trauma that their patients experienced, and identified the KMMS as the most appropriate perinatal screening tool. Aboriginal women reported that it was important for clinics to ask about mood and feelings during the perinatal period, and that the KMMS was appropriate. Aboriginal women consistently reported that it was good to have someone to talk to. This study demonstrates that innovation in perinatal depression and anxiety screening for Aboriginal women is possible and can be implemented into routine clinical care with the support of a sustained multi-year investment and strong partnerships.

Acceptability and feasibility of a screening protocol for antenatal depression (SPADe) in Blantyre District, Malawi

BACKGROUND

Depression is one of the most common perinatal mental health problems that affect pregnant women. Antenatal depression can adversely affect the well-being of the pregnant woman and her foetus. Depression is rarely detected by midwives due to the unavailability of relevant screening instruments in Malawi. A Screening Protocol for Antenatal Depression (SPADe) was developed and recommended for possible use to screen for depression in antenatal clinics in the country. The acceptability and feasibility of using the SPADe protocol to screen for depression has not been established. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of screening for depression by midwives using SPADe in antenatal clinics in Blantyre district.

METHODS

This study used a quantitative survey design to collect data among 60 midwives in three antenatal clinics in primary care settings. All inclusive sampling of all 60 midwives were used. The Structured Assessment of FEasibility and Ottawa Acceptability of Decision Rules Instruments were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics and Chi square tests were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

This study found that it was feasible to implement SPADe and the following enablers for screening depression had the highest ratings: the SPADe is applicable to pregnant women (M = 3.9, sd = 0.4); the intended goal of the SPADe matches the prioritised goals of Malawi Ministry of Health (M = 3.9, sd = 0.5); and the SPADe is likely to be effective (M = 3.8, sd = 0.6). On the other hand, barriers for implementing the SPADe were: the need for specific training to deliver the SPADe (M = 3.7, sd = 0.7); ongoing support and supervision (M = 3.5, sd = 0.8); and additional resources (M = 3.0, sd = 0.9). This study also found that the implementation of the SPADe was acceptable to respondents. The overall mean score for respondents on acceptability of screening antenatal depression using SPADe was found to be high (M = 4.6, sd = 0.6). However the differences in the respondents' mean scores on acceptability of screening for depression in antenatal clinics using SPADe in relation to their demographic characteristics were not significant (p > .05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that midwives feel that it is feasible and acceptable for them to implement the SPADe in antenatal clinics with ongoing training, support and clinical supervision.

Disparities in postnatal depression and anxiety screening: Results from a cross sectional survey of Maternal and Child health nurses in Victoria, Australia

OBJECTIVES

To describe Maternal and Child Health nurses' self-reported knowledge of, and attitude toward screening for postnatal depression and anxiety, and identify factors which impact screening in line with recommended guidelines.

METHODS

A population-based, cross-sectional study of all Maternal and Child Health nurses in Victoria, Australia. Data were collected in 2019 through an online survey designed to fit a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice framework. Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe participant characteristics, self-reported knowledge, attitude, and practices. Bivariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed to evaluate associations between screening practices and nurses' attitude toward screening and a range of sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

Two hundred and eighteen Maternal and Child Health nurses participated in the study. Participants viewed screening as an important part of their role and screened all mothers at least once in the first 12 month postpartum. <35% routinely did so more than once in the first 12 months postpartum, and 31% were able to adhere to the recommended use of psychosocial assessments as part of their screening practice. After adjusting for confounding factors, nurses practicing in communities with greater socio-economic advantage were significantly more likely to conduct psychosocial assessments (aOR 3.93, 95% CI 1.47-10.49) and screen more than once (aOR 2.91, 95% CI 1.18-7.13), compared to nurses who worked in disadvantaged communities.

CONCLUSION

Place-based inequities in nurses' screening practices serve to widen the gap in health outcomes between advantaged and disadvantages mothers. Policy and practice strategies must consider the systematic challenges that contribute to this phenomenon and embed place-based strategies which address them.

Relationship between perceived obstetric violence and the risk of postpartum depression: An observational study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between perceived obstetric violence and the risk of postpartum depression (PPD).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional observational study SETTING: During 2019 in Spain PARTICIPANTS: 782 women who had given birth in the preceding 12 months in Spain.

MEASUREMENTS

Online questionnaires were distributed to the women via their midwives and women's associations. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and clinical variables, and questions regarding the mothers' perception of obstetric violence globally and in its different forms: verbal, physical and psycho-affective. The response rate was 93.65%. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR and aOR, respectively) were estimated using binary logistic regression. Risk of PPD was estimated by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

FINDINGS

The mean EPDS score was 8.34 points (standard deviation: 3.80), with 25.4% (199) at risk of PPD (≥ 10 points). Risk factors for PPD included, multiparity (aOR: 1.62, 95% CI:1.10-2.39), newborn NICU admission (aOR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.06-3.51), experiencing verbal obstetric violence (aOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.35-3.02), and psycho-affective obstetric violence (aOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.79-3.93). The perception of support during pregnancy, birth, and the puerperium was found to be a protective factor: aOR 0.15 (95% CI: 0.04-0.54) for women who perceived enough support and aOR 0.13 (95% CI: 0.0-0.45) for women who received much support KEY CONCLUSIONS: One in four women are at risk of PPD. Multiparous women, those whose newborn required NICU admission, those who lacked partner support, and those who experienced verbal or psycho-affective obstetric violence had a higher prevalence of PPD risk.

FUNDING

The authors declare that this study was conducted without funding.

Resilience in the Perinatal Period and Early Motherhood: A Principle-Based Concept Analysis

A context-specific delineation of research approaches to resilience in the perinatal and early motherhood literature is currently lacking. A principle-based concept analysis was used to establish a description of how women's resilience is currently conceptualised and operationalised within empirical research in the perinatal period and early motherhood (defined as up to five-years postpartum). CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, EMBASE, ASSIA, Web of Science, Scielo, Maternity and Infant Care, the Cochrane Library, and the World Health Organization were systematically searched (January/February 2020 and March 2022). Fifty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Analysis demonstrated interchangeable use of associated concepts such as 'coping', 'coping strategies', and 'adaptation'. Resilience was frequently operationalised as the absence of illness symptomatology, rather than the presence of mental well-being. Investigations of positive areas of functioning were predominately related to the mother's family role. There was limited qualitative exploration of women's perspectives. Recommendations for the pragmatic application of resilience research were not well developed. The narrow operationalisation of resilience by mental ill-health and parental role, and the distinct absence of women's perspectives, restricts the logical maturity and pragmatic application of the concept. Future research may benefit from exploration of women's insights on indicators that might best reflect positive functioning and resilience in this period.

Perinatal depression screening: a systematic review of recommendations from member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Perinatal depression (PND) screening recommendations are made by national, state-based and professional organisations; however, there is disagreement regarding screening timing, provider responsible, screening setting, screening tool as well as the follow-up and referral pathways required post-screening. This systematic review aimed to identify, describe and compare PND screening recommendations from member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Publications were identified through systematically searching PubMed, Google and the Guidelines International Network (GIN). Recommendations regarding PND screening endorsement, timing, frequency, responsible provider, tools/assessments and follow-up and referral were extracted. Twenty-one publications, including guidelines, from five countries were included. Most made recommendations in support of PND screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Details differed regarding terminology used, as well as frequency of screening, follow-up mechanisms and referral pathways. A broad range of health providers were considered to be responsible for screening. This is the first review to identify and compare PND screening recommendations from OECD member countries; however, only online publications published in English, from five countries were included. Heterogeneity of publication types and inconsistency in definitions rendered quality assessment inappropriate. While most publications generally endorsed PND screening, there are exceptions and the associated details pertaining to the actual conduct of screening vary between and within countries. Developing clear, standardised recommendations based on current evidence is necessary to ensure clarity amongst healthcare providers and a comprehensive approach for the early detection of PND.

"We do not know how to screen and provide treatment": a qualitative study of barriers and enablers of implementing perinatal depression health services in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Qualitative studies evaluating maternal mental health services are lacking in Ethiopia, and the available evidence targets severe mental illnesses in the general population. We conducted a qualitative study to explore barriers to, enablers of, or opportunities for perinatal depression health services implementations in Ethiopia.

METHODS

We conducted a total of 13 face to face interviews with mental and maternal health service administrators from different levels of the Ethiopian healthcare system. We interviewed in Amharic (a local language), transcribed and translated into English, and imported into NVivo. We analysed the translated interviews inductively using thematic framework analysis.

RESULTS

The study identified: (i) health administrators' low literacy about perinatal depression as individual level barriers; (ii) community low awareness, health-seeking behaviours and cultural norms about perinatal depression as socio-cultural level barriers; (iii) lack of government capacity, readiness, and priority of screening and managing perinatal depression as organisational level barriers; and (iv) lack of mental health policy, strategies, and healthcare systems as structural level barriers of perinatal mental health implementation in Ethiopia. The introduction of the new Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGap), health professionals' commitment, and simplicity of screening programs were identified enablers of, or opportunities for, perinatal mental health service implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative inquiry identified important barriers and potential opportunities that could be used to address perinatal depression in Ethiopia. Building the capacity of policy makers and planners, strengthening the mental healthcare system and governance should be a priority issue for an effective integration of maternal mental health care with the routine maternal health services in Ethiopia.

Association between the serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy and postpartum depression

AIM

Patients with major depression present with an increased serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. However, the longitudinal relationship between serum IGF-1 levels and depression development remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between the serum IGF-1 concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy and postpartum depression development using data obtained from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

METHODS

The JECS included 97 415 pregnant women; among them, 8791 were enrolled in this study. Data regarding depression in the first trimester, postpartum depression development at 1 month after childbirth, and other covariates were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Serum IGF-1 levels were measured in the first trimester of pregnancy. The participants were divided into four groups according to the serum IGF-1 level.

RESULTS

In the first trimester, serum IGF-1 levels were not significantly associated with psychological distress in pregnant women. In the longitudinal analyses, however, postpartum depression development in mothers within the highest quartile for serum IGF-1 concentration in the first trimester was significantly less common than in those within the lowest quartile (odds ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.79).

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women with a high serum IGF-1 concentration in the first trimester were less likely to develop postpartum depression than those with a low concentration. A high serum IGF-1 concentration during pregnancy may help to protect against postpartum depression development.

Validation of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder questionnaire for Spanish women during the postpartum period

To determine the psychometric properties of the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Questionnaire (PPQ) in Spanish. A cross-sectional study of 432 Spanish puerperal women was conducted, following ethical approval. The PPQ was administered online through midwives' associations across Spain. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to diagnose postnatal depression for examining criterion validity. Data were collected on sociodemographic, obstetric, and neonatal variables. An exploratory factorial analysis (EFA) was performed with convergence and criterion validation. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's α. The EFA identified three components that explained 63.3% of variance. The PPQ's convergence validation associated the risk of PTSD with variables including birth plan, type of birth, hospital length of stay, hospital readmission, admission of the newborn to care unit, skin-to-skin contact, maternal feeding at discharge, maternal perception of partner support, and respect shown by healthcare professionals during childbirth and puerperium. The area under the ROC curve for the risk of postnatal depression (criterion validity) was 0.86 (95% CI 0.82-0.91). Internal consistency with Cronbach's α value was 0.896. The PPQ used when screening for PTSD in postpartum Spanish women showed adequate psychometric properties.

Hypothetical acceptability of hospital-based post-mortem pediatric minimally invasive tissue sampling in Malawi: The role of complex social relationships

BACKGROUND

Child mortality rates remain unacceptably high in low-resource settings. Cause of death (CoD) is often unknown. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS)-using biopsy needles to obtain post-mortem samples-for histopathological and microbiologic investigation is increasingly being promoted to improve child and adult CoD attribution. "MITS in Malawi" is a sub-study of the Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, which aims to identify biological and socioeconomic mortality risk factors among young children hospitalized for acute illness or undernutrition. MITS in Malawi employs standard MITS and a novel post-mortem endoscopic intestinal sampling approach to better understand CoD among children with acute illness and/or malnutrition who die during hospitalization.

AIM

To understand factors that may impact MITS acceptability and inform introduction of the procedure to ascertain CoD among children with acute illness or malnutrition who die during hospitalization in Malawi.

METHODS

We conducted eight focus group discussions with key hospital staff and community members (religious leaders and parents of children under 5) to explore attitudes towards MITS and inform consent processes prior to commencing the MITS in Malawi study. We used thematic content analysis drawing on a conceptual framework developed from emergent themes and MITS acceptability literature.

RESULTS

Feelings of power over decision-making within the hospital and household, trust in health systems, and open and respectful health worker communication with parents were important dimensions of MITS acceptability. Other facilitating factors included the potential for MITS to add CoD information to aid sense-making of death and contribute to medical knowledge and new interventions. Potential barriers to acceptability included fears of organ and blood harvesting, disfigurement to the body, and disruption to transportation and burial plans.

CONCLUSION

Social relationships and power dynamics within healthcare systems and households are a critical component of MITS acceptability, especially given the sensitivity of death and autopsy.

An intervention to improve the quality of life in children of parents with serious mental illness: the Young SMILES feasibility RCT

BACKGROUND

Quality of life for children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness can be impaired, but evidence-based interventions to improve it are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

Co-production of a child-centred intervention [called Young Simplifying Mental Illness plus Life Enhancement Skills (SMILES)] to improve the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness, and evaluating its acceptability and feasibility for delivery in NHS and community settings.

DESIGN

Qualitative and co-production methods informed the development of the intervention (Phase I). A feasibility randomised controlled trial was designed to compare Young SMILES with treatment as usual (Phase II). Semistructured qualitative interviews were used to explore acceptability among children and adolescents living with their parents, who had serious mental illness, and their parents. A mixture of semistructured qualitative interviews and focus group research was used to examine feasibility among Young SMILES facilitators and referrers/non-referrers.

SETTING

Randomisation was conducted after baseline measures were collected by the study co-ordinator, ensuring that the blinding of the statistician and research team was maintained to reduce detection bias.

PARTICIPANTS

Phase I: 14 children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness, seven parents and 31 practitioners from social, educational and health-related sectors. Phase II: 40 children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness, 33 parents, five referrers/non-referrers and 16 Young SMILES facilitators.

INTERVENTION

Young SMILES was delivered at two sites: (1) Warrington, supported by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), and (2) Newcastle, supported by the NHS and Barnardo's. An eight-session weekly group programme was delivered, with four to six children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness per age-appropriate group (6-11 and 12-16 years). At week 4, a five-session parallel weekly programme was offered to the parents/carers. Sessions lasted 2 hours each and focused on improving mental health literacy, child-parent communication and children's problem-solving skills.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Phase ll children and parents completed questionnaires at randomisation and then again at 4 and 6 months post randomisation. Quality of life was self-reported by children and proxy-reported by parents using the Paediatric Quality of Life questionnaire and KIDSCREEN. Semistructured interviews with parents (n = 14) and children (n = 17) who participated in the Young SMILES groups gathered information about their motivation to sign up to the study, their experiences of participating in the group sessions, and their perceived changes in themselves and their family members following intervention. Further interviews with individual referrers (n = 5) gathered information about challenges to recruitment and randomisation. Two focus groups (n = 16) with practitioners who facilitated the intervention explored their views of the format and content of the Young SMILES manual and their suggestions for changes.

RESULTS

A total of 35 families were recruited: 20 were randomly allocated to Young SMILES group and 15 to treatment as usual. Of those, 28 families [15/20 (75%) in the intervention group and 13/15 (87%) in the control group] gave follow-up data at the primary end point (4 months post baseline). Participating children had high adherence to the intervention and high completion rates of the questionnaires. Children and adolescents living with their parents, who had serious mental illness, and their parents were mainly very positive and enthusiastic about Young SMILES, both of whom invoked the benefits of peer support and insight into parental difficulties. Although facilitators regarded Young SMILES as a meaningful and distinctive intervention having great potential, referrers identified several barriers to referring families to the study. One harm was reported by a parent, which was dealt with by the research team and the NSPCC in accordance with the standard operating procedures.

LIMITATIONS

The findings from our feasibility study are not sufficient to recommend a fully powered trial of Young SMILES in the near future. Although it was feasible to randomise children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness of different ages to standardised, time-limited groups in both NHS and non-NHS settings, an intervention like Young SMILES is unlikely to address underlying core components of the vulnerability that children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness express as a population over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Young SMILES was widely valued as unique in filling a recognised gap in need. Outcome measures in future studies of interventions for children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness are more likely to capture change in individual risk factors for reduced quality of life by considering their unmet need, rather than on an aggregate construct of health-related quality of life overall, which may not reflect these young people's needs.

FUTURE WORK

A public health approach to intervention might be best. Most children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness remain well most of the time, so, although their absolute risks are low across outcomes (and most will remain resilient most of the time), consistent population estimates find their relative risk to be high compared with unexposed children. A public health approach to intervention needs to be both tailored to the particular needs of children and adolescents living with serious parental mental illness and agile to these needs so that it can respond to fluctuations over time.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN36865046.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 59. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Exploring the Extent of Perinatal Depression Screening in the Health Records of Veterans

To investigate adherence by Veterans Affairs (VA) providers to perinatal depression screening clinical practice guidelines (two prenatal and one postpartum screen). Women Veterans who enrolled in a multisite cohort study during pregnancy and delivered newborns between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 were included. VA electronic health record (EHR) and claims data identified the start of pregnancy care, depression screens, and medical history. Prenatal and postpartum telephone surveys collected demographics, pregnancy characteristics, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores. Data from EHRs was combined with telephone survey data to create the analytic dataset (n = 663). Most (93%) Veterans had primary care at the VA during pregnancy; 41% saw a VA mental health provider. Perinatal depression screens were conducted with 43% of Veterans; 13% had both prenatal and postnatal screens. Screened Veterans were less likely to be diagnosed with depression by a VA provider in either the preconception or pregnancy time periods compared to those not screened (11% vs. 24% and 14% vs 23%, respectively). Among unscreened women, 18% scored positive for depression prenatally and 9% postnatally on the EPDS. Less than half of our sample had evidence of depression screening during the perinatal period, despite contact with VA providers. Perinatal Veterans sustaining VA mental health care may account for fewer screens. Lack of screening may hinder connection to VA mental health treatment and referral resources for symptomatic women. VA should ensure Veterans receive perinatal depression screening to mediate the risks of depression on Veterans and their children.

Why validation is not enough: Setting the scene for the implementation of the Kimberley Mum's Mood Scale

Background

The two part Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale (KMMS) has been developed and validated as a culturally appropriate perinatal depression and anxiety screening tool for Aboriginal women living in the sparsely populated Kimberley region of North West Australia. As part of implementation aspects of user acceptability were explored to improve clinical utilisation of the KMMS.

Methods

Eighteen health professionals involved in perinatal care participated in an online survey or a qualitative semi-structured interview. Ten Aboriginal women (who held administrative, professional or executive roles) were subsequently interviewed in depth to further explore aspects of KMMS user acceptability.

Results

Many of the health professionals were not using the second part of the KMMS (the psychosocial discussion tool). Time constraints and a perception that the KMMS is only appropriate for women with literacy issues were identified by health professionals as significant barriers to KMMS uptake. In contrast the Aboriginal women interviewed considered the KMMS to be important for literate Aboriginal women and placed high value on having the time and space to ‘yarn’ with health professionals about issues that are important to them.

Conclusion

Implementing the KMMS across the Kimberley region requires health professionals to be trained. It also requires strategic engagement with health services to ensure health professionals and mangers understand the rationale and significance of the KMMS and are engaged in its successful implementation.

"If you don't ask … you don't tell": Refugee women's perspectives on perinatal mental health screening

PROBLEM

National guidelines recommending mental health screening in pregnancy have not been implemented well in routine maternity care. Women of refugee background are likely to have experienced traumatic events and resettlement stressors, yet are not often identified with mental health issues in the perinatal period.

BACKGROUND

Globally, perinatal mental health conditions affect up to 20% of women. Many difficulties in accessing mental health care in pregnancy exist for women of refugee background including stigma, and cultural and language barriers. Technology can provide an efficient and effective method to overcome some of these barriers.

AIM

To determine if a digital perinatal mental health screening program is feasible and acceptable for women of refugee background.

METHODS

This qualitative evaluation study used focus group and semi-structured telephone interviews with refugee and migrant women from four communities. Interpreters were used with women who spoke little or no English. Data were analysed using both an inductive and deductive approach to thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

Under the three key themes: 'Women's experiences of perinatal mental health screening in pregnancy'; 'Barriers and enablers to accessing ongoing mental health care' and 'Improvements to the program: the development of audio versions', women found the program feasible and acceptable.

DISCUSSION

Screening using a mobile device offered women more privacy and opened up discussions with midwives on emotional health. Improvements in service coordination and access to further mental health management for women is required.

CONCLUSION

Perinatal mental health screening is an acceptable and feasible option for women of refugee background. Integrated models of care, case management, and patient navigators are options for improvements in uptake of referral and treatment services.

Study protocol: a clinical trial for improving mental health screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women and mothers of young children using the Kimberley Mum's Mood Scale

Background

Improving the rates of, and instruments used in, screening for perinatal depression and anxiety among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are important public health priorities. The Kimberley Mum’s Mood Scale (KMMS) was developed and later validated as an effective and acceptable perinatal depression and anxiety screening tool for the Kimberley region under research conditions. Other regions have expressed interest in using the KMMS with perinatal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. It is, however, important to re-evaluate the KMMS in a larger Kimberley sample via a real world implementation study, and to test for applicability in other remote and regional environments before recommendations for wider use can be made. This paper outlines the protocol for evaluating the process of implementation and establishing the ‘real world’ validity and acceptability of the KMMS in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Far North Queensland in northern Australia.

Methods

The study will use a range of quantitative and qualitative methods across all sites. KMMS validation/revalidation internal consistency of Part 1 will be determined using Cronbach’s alpha. Equivalence for identifying risk of depression and anxiety compared to a standard reference assessment will be determined from receiver operating characteristic curves. Sensitivity and specificity will be determined based on these cut-points. Qualitative methods of phenomenology will be used to explore concepts of KMMS user acceptability (women and health professionals). Additional process evaluation methods will collate, assess and report on KMMS quality review data, consultations with health service administrators and management, field notes, and other documentation from the research team. This information will be reported on using the Dynamic Sustainability Framework.

Discussion

This project is contributing to the important public health priority of screening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women for perinatal depression and anxiety with tools that are meaningful and responsive to cultural and clinical needs. Identifying and addressing barriers to implementation contributes to our understanding of the complexity of improving routine clinical practie.

Trial registration

The study was registered retrospectively on 15/05/2019 with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial registry (ACTRN12619000580178).

Improving Mental Health in Pregnancy for Refugee Women: Protocol for the Implementation and Evaluation of a Screening Program in Melbourne, Australia

BACKGROUND

Identifying mental health disorders in migrant and refugee women during pregnancy provides an opportunity for interventions that may benefit women and their families. Evidence suggests that perinatal mental health disorders impact mother-infant attachment at critical times, which can affect child development. Postnatal depression resulting in suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality postpartum. Routine screening of perinatal mental health is recommended to improve the identification of depression and anxiety and to facilitate early management. However, screening is poorly implemented into routine practice. This study is the first to investigate routine screening for perinatal mental health in a maternity setting designed for refugee women. This study will determine whether symptoms of depression and anxiety are more likely to be detected by the screening program compared with routine care and will evaluate the screening program's feasibility and acceptability to women and health care providers (HCPs).

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are (1) to assess if refugee women are more likely to screen risk-positive for depression and anxiety than nonrefugee women, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); (2) to assess if screening in pregnancy using the EPDS enables better detection of symptoms of depression and anxiety in refugee women than current routine care; (3) to determine if a screening program for perinatal mental health in a maternity setting designed for refugee women is acceptable to women; and (4) to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the perinatal mental health screening program from the perspective of HCPs (including the barriers and enablers to implementation).

METHODS

This study uses an internationally recommended screening measure, the EPDS, and a locally developed psychosocial questionnaire, both administered in early pregnancy and again in the third trimester. These measures have been translated into the most common languages used by the women attending the clinic and are administered via an electronic platform (iCOPE). This platform automatically calculates the EPDS score and generates reports for the HCP and woman. A total of 119 refugee women and 155 nonrefugee women have been recruited to evaluate the screening program's ability to detect depression and anxiety symptoms and will be compared with 34 refugee women receiving routine care. A subsample of women will participate in a qualitative assessment of the screening program's acceptability and feasibility. Health service staff have been recruited to evaluate the integration of screening into maternity care.

RESULTS

The recruitment is complete, and data collection and analysis are underway.

CONCLUSIONS

It is anticipated that screening will increase the identification and management of depression and anxiety symptoms in pregnancy. New information will be generated on how to implement such a program in feasible and acceptable ways that will improve health outcomes for refugee women.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/13271.

Bridging the Gap for Perinatal Veterans: Care by Mental Health Providers at the Veterans Health Administration

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women veterans receive maternity care from community obstetricians but continue to receive mental health care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Our objective was to explore the experiences of VHA mental health providers with pregnant and postpartum veterans.

METHODS

Mental health providers (n = 33) were identified at 14 VHA facilities across the United States. Semistructured interviews were conducted over the phone to learn about provider experiences with perinatal women veterans and their perceptions of depression screening and mental health treatment management for pregnant and postpartum veterans receiving mental health care within the VHA system.

FINDINGS

Providers identified an absence of screening protocols and referral procedures and variability in risk/benefit conversations surrounding psychotropic medication use as important areas of weakness for VHA mental health care during the perinatal period. Care coordination within facilities, primarily through Primary Care-Mental Health Integration teams, was identified as a main facilitator to promoting better mental health care for perinatal veterans.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health providers caring for veterans during the perinatal period identified several areas where care could be improved, notably in screening and referral processes. A refinement to current guidelines to specify standard screening tools, screening schedules, and referral processes could potentially engage a greater number of pregnant women in VHA mental health care.

Improving Postpartum Depression Screening in Pediatric Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Project

BACKGROUND

Despite recommendations for standardized postpartum depression screening in primary care pediatrics, few pediatric healthcare providers are adequately screening mothers for postpartum depression.

AIMS

To improve standardized screening for postpartum depression in the pediatric primary care setting. Secondary aims were to determine if infant and family characteristics (gender of infant, feeding method, insurance type, income level, ethnicity of infant) were associated with positive postpartum depression screening.

METHODS

This quality improvement project involved implementing a standardized postpartum depression screening tool into pediatric primary care practice. Independent samples t-test and logistic regression were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Postpartum depression screening practices improved from 83% to 88% (p = 0.096). Although not statistically significant, infant characteristics of male gender, Medicaid or sliding-scale payment for services, and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with higher rates of positive postpartum depression screens.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric health care providers can effectively screen for postpartum depression. Certain infant and family characteristics may alert the provider to higher risks for mothers.

A qualitative study of women's views on the acceptability of being asked about mental health problems at antenatal booking appointments

OBJECTIVE

To explore women's views on the acceptability of being asked about mental health problems at antenatal booking.

DESIGN

Qualitative study.

SETTING

Brief semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with women in a private setting at a hospital, or at women's homes. Interview discussions centered around three key questions: "What was it like for you answering the questions about your mood?", "Were there any questions you found upsetting, distressing or confronting?" and "Did the midwife give you some feedback about your answers?"

MEASUREMENTS

Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic and framework approaches.

PARTICIPANTS

An ethnically diverse sample [32% white British/Irish, 68% non-white, non-British] of 52 women living in the study area.

FINDINGS

Most women found mental health enquiry acceptable. A smaller proportion reported difficulties and many of these women had a past or current mental health problem and/or a history of abuse. These women reported difficulty due to the emotional responses triggered by the questions and the way disclosures were handled. In general, women wanted to be asked clear questions about mental health problems, to have sufficient time to discuss issues, and to receive responses from midwives which were normalising and well-informed about mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights that women want midwives to ask clearly-framed questions about mental health problems [addressing past and current mental health concerns], and value responses from midwives that are normalising, well-informed and allow for discussion.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Training should be provided to midwives on how to appropriately respond to women's distress during mental health enquiry, and on referral to support services.

Paternal Perinatal Mental Health: At-Risk Fathers’ Perceptions of Help-Seeking and Screening

Given the prevalence of paternal perinatal mental health concerns, researchers have suggested introducing routine screening. However, little is known about the acceptability of perinatal screening measures in male populations. Furthermore, the need for screening is influenced by men’s perinatal help-seeking behaviors. A thematic analysis of interview data from nine men at risk of paternal perinatal depression and/or anxiety investigated both acceptability of screening and help-seeking behaviors. Themes indicate that routine screening is desired, but acceptability is influenced by perceptions of its intention and possible outcomes. Findings also suggest that barriers to men’s perinatal help-seeking are likely to be minimized by increased awareness and normalization. Future research and clinical practice should account for complexities raised by men’s perceptions of health care services.

Expression of inflammatory markers in women with perinatal depressive symptoms

Perinatal depression affects 10-20% of women and is associated with poor outcomes for mother and child. Inflammation is associated with depression in non-pregnant adults. Perinatal depression and inflammation in pregnancy are independently associated with morbidities including obesity, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. The role of inflammation in perinatal depression has received little attention. We hypothesized an association between self-reported perinatal depressive symptoms and serum inflammatory biomarkers TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and CRP. 110 healthy gravidas were recruited in third trimester from an academic medical center, with a baseline study visit at a mean of 32.5 (SD ± 1.8) weeks gestational age. Sixty-three participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and provided demographic information and serum samples upon enrollment and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Serum inflammatory markers were quantified by multiplex array. Multiple linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate trends of biomarkers with the EPDS score in the third trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Elevated serum TNF-α was associated with lower EPDS total score (β = - 0.90, p = 0.046) after adjusting for demographics and medication use. In contrast, IL-6, CRP, and IL-1β did not demonstrate statistically significant associations with depressive symptoms by the EPDS in either crude or adjusted models. Study findings showed no association or an inverse (TNF-α) association between inflammatory markers and perinatal depressive symptoms. Relevant literature evaluating a role for inflammation in depression in the unique context of pregnancy is both limited and inconsistent, and further exploration is merited.

WHO-5 and BDI-II are acceptable screening instruments for depression in people with diabetes

AIMS

To investigate the acceptability of two questionnaires, the five item WHO Well-being Index (WHO-5) and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), which differ in length and focus, by comparing three screening groups: (1) WHO-5, (2) BDI-II and (3) WHO-5 and BDI-II.

METHODS

A total of 699 individuals with diabetes were approached to participate in the study, of whom 95 completed the WHO-5, 254 completed the BDI-II and 350 completed both the WHO-5 and the BDI-II questionnaires. Five facets of acceptability were compared, including objective aspects (response rate and completion level) and subjective aspects (appreciation, agreeableness and accuracy of the screening questionnaire). Data were analysed using logistic regression analysis and (multivariate) analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 65% (453 out of 699). No differences between the three groups were found with respect to the response rate (WHO-5: 66%; BDI-II: 63%; WHO-5 and BDI-II: 66%; P ≥ 0.19) and completion level (WHO-5: 99.5%; BDI-II: 97.8%; WHO-5 and BDI-II: 98.7%; P=0.45). The three groups did differ significantly in their scores on two of the three subjective indicators (P<0.03), i.e. appreciation (P=0.002) and agreeableness (P=0.035), with those completing only the WHO-5 reporting greater appreciation and agreeableness.

CONCLUSIONS

A brief well-being questionnaire, such as the WHO-5, results in greater appreciation of mood screening and appreciation of completing the questionnaire, but this does not result in a better response rate and higher questionnaire completion. Given these results, either or both questionnaires can be used to screen for depressive symptoms in people with diabetes in clinical practice.

Content validation of a questionnaire measuring basic perinatal depression knowledge

Perinatal depression (PND) screening is encouraged in healthcare settings. We aimed to develop and content validate a basic PND knowledge questionnaire for use among pharmacists and potentially other primary healthcare professionals (HCPs). A six-item questionnaire was developed. Twenty-five perinatal mental health experts were invited to participate in content validation by completing the questionnaire and assessing its content validity. A content validity index (CVI) score above 0.8 was indicative of content validity. Expert comments may inform items' deletion or revision. Between November 2016 and February 2017, ten experts participated. For five out of six items, the CVI score was 0.9 or 1.0. Two experts selected "I think none are correct" for one item regarding the onset of postpartum depression. Comments reflected the lack of consensus in the literature surrounding onset periods and prevalence rates and informed minor modifications to three of six questions and seven of 24 response options. The CVI for the questionnaire was 0.83.Content validation of a questionnaire measuring basic PND knowledge resulted in modifications. Comments about PND onset and prevalence indicated the need for consistency when defining and measuring these constructs. This questionnaire may be used among pharmacists and other HCPs.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Questionnaire to Measure Attitudes Toward Perinatal Depression and Acceptability of Screening: The PND Attitudes and Screening Acceptability Questionnaire (PASAQ)

Prior to implementing perinatal depression (PND) screening, health-care professionals' acceptability of screening and their attitudes toward PND should be explored. We aimed to develop and psychometrically evaluate a questionnaire measuring PND attitudes and screening acceptability. A 31-item questionnaire was developed based on published questionnaires and a systematic review on PND screening acceptability. Principal components analysis with direct oblimin rotation was used to determine construct validity. Reliability of the resulting components was explored using Cronbach's α. Pharmacists (N = 153) were recruited from the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy. The scree plot and parallel analysis indicated a six-component solution. Due to cross-loadings (<.2 difference) and low loadings (<.445), it was necessary to delete 7 items. The six components explored PND screening acceptability, screening readiness, stigma, attitudes toward treatment efficacy, medication counseling responsibility, and the effect PND has on others. The six components explained 59.8% of the variance. Item loadings ranged from .445 to .880. Cronbach's α for each component ranged from .45 to .86. The construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the PND attitudes and screening acceptability questionnaire have been explored. Future measurements of these constructs using uniform, psychometrically sound scales may facilitate comparisons across studies.

Women's views and experiences of having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period

OBJECTIVE

To explore women's views and experiences of having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period in an Irish maternity hospital setting.

DESIGN

A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was used to explore women's views and experiences. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006).

SETTING

A voluntary maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland which had access to a perinatal mental health team.

PARTICIPANTS

In total 8 women who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and participated in this study. The women were interviewed in the early postpartum period.

FINDINGS

The study offers important insights into how women feel about having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period. Women reported pregnancy was an emotional time, feeling expected to be happy, and women with significant mental health histories preferred not to be referred to available services unless they asked for help. Women reported barriers to disclosure including stigma/shame, lack of time. Screening tools were viewed with mixed opinions. In getting help, the baby was a motivator for some women, attitudes of healthcare professionals and lack of time affected this.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

Women appreciated all methods of enquiry about their mental health and being given time to discuss concerns with healthcare professionals. Perceived busy staff workloads was a barrier in asking for help, as was lack of continuity of care. Screening tools were viewed as a tick box exercise, but also as a 'modality' to assist detection of women at risk. Mental health enquiry focused on depression and anxiety, with little or no enquiry about less common disorders. Women with significant histories were less likely to engage or accept referral to perinatal mental health services, preferring to access help if they felt they needed to.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

HCPs should enquire regularly about women's emotional wellbeing at every antenatal and postnatal contact, offering support where required. Detailed enquiry about mental health should encompass the broad spectrum of perinatal mental health problems, including but not limited to depression and anxiety. Screening tools can assist in the identification of women at risk of developing perinatal mental health problems. A specialist mental health midwife should link with high-risk women at the first antenatal booking visit and provide information on early intervention and access to services.

Identifying perinatal depression with case-finding instruments: a mixed-methods study (BaBY PaNDA – Born and Bred in Yorkshire PeriNatal Depression Diagnostic Accuracy)

Background

Perinatal depression is well recognised as a mental health condition but < 50% of cases are identified in routine practice. A case-finding strategy using the Whooley questions is currently recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Objectives

To determine the diagnostic accuracy, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the Whooley questions and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to identify perinatal depression.

Design

A prospective diagnostic accuracy cohort study, with concurrent qualitative and economic evaluations.

Setting

Maternity services in England.

Participants

A total of 391 pregnant women.

Main outcome measures

Women completed the Whooley questions, EPDS and a diagnostic reference standard (Clinical Interview Schedule – Revised) during pregnancy (20 weeks) and postnatally (3–4 months). Qualitative interviews were conducted with health professionals (HPs) and a subsample of women.

Results

Diagnostic accuracy results: depression prevalence rates were 10.3% during pregnancy and 10.5% postnatally. The Whooley questions and EPDS (cut-off point of ≥ 10) performed reasonably well, with comparable sensitivity [pregnancy: Whooley questions 85.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 70.2% to 94.3%; EPDS 82.5%, 95% CI 67.2% to 92.7%; postnatally: Whooley questions 85.7%, 95% CI 69.7% to 95.2%; EPDS 82.9%, 95% CI 66.4% to 93.4%] and specificity (pregnancy: Whooley questions 83.7%, 95% CI 79.4% to 87.4%; EPDS 86.6%, 95% CI 82.5% to 90.0%; postnatally: Whooley questions 80.6%, 95% CI 75.7% to 84.9%; EPDS 87.6%, 95% CI 83.3% to 91.1%). Diagnostic accuracy of the EPDS (cut-off point of ≥ 13) was poor at both time points (pregnancy: sensitivity 45%, 95% CI 29.3% to 61.5%, and specificity 95.7%, 95% CI 93.0% to 97.6%; postnatally: sensitivity 62.9%, 95% CI 44.9% to 78.5%, and specificity 95.7%, 95% CI 92.7% to 97.7%). Qualitative evaluation: women and HPs were supportive of screening/case-finding for perinatal depression. The EPDS was preferred to the Whooley questions by women and HPs, mainly because of its ‘softer’ wording. Whooley question 1 was thought to be less acceptable, largely because of the terms ‘depressed’ and ‘hopeless’, leading to women not revealing their depressive symptoms. HPs identified a ‘patient-centred’ environment that focused on the mother and baby to promote discussion about mental health. Cost-effectiveness results: screening/case-finding using the Whooley questions or the EPDS alone was not the most cost-effective strategy. A two-stage strategy, ‘Whooley questions followed by the Patient Health Questionnaire’ (a measure assessing depression symptomatology), was the most cost-effective strategy in the range between £20,000 and £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year in both the prenatal and postnatal decision models.

Limitations

Perinatal depression diagnosis was not cross-referenced with women’s medical records so the proportion of new cases identified is unknown. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening/case-finding strategies was not assessed as part of a randomised controlled trial.

Conclusions

The Whooley questions and EPDS had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, but their use in practice might be limited by low predictive value and variation in their acceptability. A two-stage strategy was more cost-effective than single-stage strategies. Neither case-finding instrument met National Screening Committee criteria.

Future work

The yield of screening/case-finding should be established with reference to health-care records. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening/case-finding for perinatal depression needs to be tested in a randomised controlled trial.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

A qualitative inquiry on pregnant women's preferences for mental health screening

Background

Approaches to screening can influence the acceptance of and comfort with mental health screening. Qualitative evidence on pregnant women’s comfort with different screening approaches and disclosure of mental health concerns is scant. The purpose of this study was to understand women’s perspectives of different mental health screening approaches and the perceived barriers to the communication and disclosure of their mental health concerns during pregnancy.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was undertaken. Fifteen women, with a singleton pregnancy, were recruited from a community maternity clinic and a mental health clinic in Calgary, Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during both the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Preferences for mental health screening approaches varied. Most women with a known mental health issue preferred a communicative approach, while women without a known mental health history who struggled with emotional problems were inclined towards less interactive approaches and reported a reluctance to share their concerns. Barriers to communicating mental health concerns included a lack of emotional literacy (i.e., not recognizing the symptoms, not understanding the emotions), fear of disclosure outcomes (i.e., fear of being judged, fear of the consequences), feeling uncomfortable to be seen vulnerable, perception about the role of prenatal care provider (internal barriers); the lack of continuity of care, depersonalized care, lack of feedback, and unfamiliarity with/uncertainty about the availability of support (structural barriers).

Conclusions

The overlaps between some themes identified for the reasons behind a preferred screening approach and barriers reported by women to communicate mental health concerns suggest that having options may help women overcome some of the current disclosure barriers and enable them to engage in the process. Furthermore, the continuity of care, clarity around the outcomes of disclosing mental health concerns, and availability of immediate support can help women move from providing “the best answer” to providing an authentic answer.

Behavioral Emergencies: Special Considerations in the Pregnant Patient

This article describes psychiatric emergencies in pregnant women. The perinatal period is a time of psychiatric vulnerability. Up to 1 in 6 pregnant women experience major depressive disorder, and 1 in 4 pregnant women with bipolar disorder experience mood exacerbation. We discuss the management of severe mental illness in pregnancy, risk to mother and child of untreated psychiatric illness in pregnancy, risk of relapse of psychiatric disorders in pregnancy with medication discontinuation, psychopharmacologic considerations of teratogenicity and other fetal adverse effects, acute agitation in the pregnant patient, suicidality in pregnancy, and emergency considerations related to substance use disorders.

Association between gestational diabetes and perinatal depressive symptoms: evidence from a Greek cohort study

Aim

The aim of the present study was to assess the association of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms in a sample of pregnant women in Greece.

Background

Earlier research supports a relationship between depression and diabetes, but only a few studies have examined the relationship between GDM and perinatal depressive symptomatology.

Methods

A total of 117 women in their third trimester of pregnancy participated in the study. Demographic and obstetric history data were recorded during women’s third trimester of pregnancy. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the validated Greek version of the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at two time points: on the third trimester of pregnancy and on the first week postpartum.

Findings

Prevalence of GDM was 14.5%. Probable diagnosis of depression occurred for 12% of the sample during the antenatal assessment and 15.1% in the postpartum assessment. In the first week postpartum, women with GDM had significantly higher postpartum (but no antenatal) EPDS scores compared with the non-GDM cohort. In conclusion, GDM appears to be associated with depressive symptoms in the first week postpartum. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed, emphasizing the importance of closely monitoring women with GDM who seem more vulnerable to developing depressive symptomatology during the postnatal period.

Acceptability of healthcare interventions: an overview of reviews and development of a theoretical framework

BACKGROUND

It is increasingly acknowledged that 'acceptability' should be considered when designing, evaluating and implementing healthcare interventions. However, the published literature offers little guidance on how to define or assess acceptability. The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-construct theoretical framework of acceptability of healthcare interventions that can be applied to assess prospective (i.e. anticipated) and retrospective (i.e. experienced) acceptability from the perspective of intervention delivers and recipients.

METHODS

Two methods were used to select the component constructs of acceptability. 1) An overview of reviews was conducted to identify systematic reviews that claim to define, theorise or measure acceptability of healthcare interventions. 2) Principles of inductive and deductive reasoning were applied to theorise the concept of acceptability and develop a theoretical framework. Steps included (1) defining acceptability; (2) describing its properties and scope and (3) identifying component constructs and empirical indicators.

RESULTS

From the 43 reviews included in the overview, none explicitly theorised or defined acceptability. Measures used to assess acceptability focused on behaviour (e.g. dropout rates) (23 reviews), affect (i.e. feelings) (5 reviews), cognition (i.e. perceptions) (7 reviews) or a combination of these (8 reviews). From the methods described above we propose a definition: Acceptability is a multi-faceted construct that reflects the extent to which people delivering or receiving a healthcare intervention consider it to be appropriate, based on anticipated or experienced cognitive and emotional responses to the intervention. The theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) consists of seven component constructs: affective attitude, burden, perceived effectiveness, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity costs, and self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Despite frequent claims that healthcare interventions have assessed acceptability, it is evident that acceptability research could be more robust. The proposed definition of acceptability and the TFA can inform assessment tools and evaluations of the acceptability of new or existing interventions.