Trial of a patient-directed eHealth program to ameliorate perinatal depression: the MomMoodBooster2 practical effectiveness study.

Background: Depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth, and is experienced by approximately 17% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women. An estimated 85% of these women go untreated-an alarming statistic given the serious consequences for the mother, her child, other family members, and society. Professional societies (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Academy of Pediatrics) have recommended improvements in screening and treatment.

Feasibility of perinatal mood screening and text messaging on patients' personal smartphones.

Screens and adjunctive treatments for perinatal mood are available, but barriers prevent many women from receiving them. Mobile technology may help bypass barriers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of screening and texting perinatal women via their personal smartphones.

The experience of depression, anxiety, and mania among perinatal women.

We assessed differential item functioning (DIF) based on computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to examine how perinatal mood disorders differ from adult psychiatric disorders. The CAT-Mental Health (CAT-MH) was administered to 1614 adult psychiatric outpatients and 419 perinatal women with IRB approval. We examined individual item-level differences using logistic regression and overall score differences by scoring the perinatal data using the original bifactor model calibration based on the psychiatric sample data and a new bifactor model calibration based on the perinatal data and computing their correlation.

The pattern of depression screening results across successive pregnancies.

Objective: Determine whether depression screen results are consistent across successive pregnancies.

Study Design: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered in 2 successive pregnancies to 2116 women. A woman was "screen-positive" if she scored ≥ 12 at 24-28 weeks' or 6-weeks' postpartum.

Barriers to mental health treatment among obstetric patients at risk for depression.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine mental health referrals outcomes among obstetric patients at risk for depression.

Study Design: Fifty-one perinatal women who were offered mental health referrals were queried about their behaviors at 4 steps in the treatment engagement process and factors facilitating or impeding each step.

Results: Although 59% of at-risk women accepted mental health referrals, only 27% ultimately engaged in treatment.

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.