Exposure to Racism and Other Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Perinatal Women with Moderate to Severe Mental Illness.

We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of conventional and expanded adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including exposure to violence and racism, in perinatal women with mental illness. 133 perinatal women with mental illness completed the original ACEs (conventional ACEs) survey and the 6-question adverse environmental experiences (expanded ACEs) survey from the Philadelphia ACEs study. Associations between racial groups and ACE scores, mental health and psychosocial variables were evaluated.

Addressing perinatal depression in a group of underserved urban women: a focus group study.

Background: Perinatal mental health problems are common complications of pregnancy that can go undetected and untreated. Research indicated that mental health complications are more prevalent in women from disadvantaged communities, yet women from these communities often experience barriers to accessing treatments and interventions. Untreated depression during pregnancy can lead to poor self-care, increased substance abuse, poor obstetrical outcomes, developmental delay in children, and increased risk of postpartum depression.

Obstetric care provider engagement in a perinatal depression screening program.

To investigate obstetric care provider attitudes toward perinatal depression screening and factors associated with variable screening rates. Provider attitudes about depression screening were investigated via structured interviews (open-ended and rating scale questions) and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Most providers (86%) found screening effective at identifying women at risk for perinatal depression (average rating of 8.

The utility of maternal depression screening in the third trimester.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of maternal depressive risk in patients during the third trimester and to determine whether unique at-risk women are identified when the data are compared with postpartum screening.

Study Design: As part of a comprehensive program for universal perinatal depression screening and behavioral health referral of at-risk women, patients completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale both during pregnancy (24-28 weeks of gestation) and again at 6 weeks after delivery. Based on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores of > or =12, the prevalence of antepartum depressive risk and the rates of concordant/discordant risk status with the corresponding postpartum results were calculated.