Association between screening for antenatal depressive symptoms and delivery outcomes: The Born in Queensland Study.

Background: Evidence shows that depressive symptoms during pregnancy increase the risk of an intervention during delivery (induction, the use of forceps or vacuum, and caesarean sections (CS)). Many women with depression during pregnancy are not identified and therefore will not receive appropriate follow up of their symptoms. We hypothesised that routine screening for depressive symptoms during pregnancy could reduce detrimental consequences of depressive symptoms on delivery outcomes.

Trends of perinatal mental health referrals and psychiatric admissions in Queensland.

Background: Perinatal depression is often underdiagnosed; consequently, many women suffer perinatal depression without follow-up care. Screening for depressive symptoms during the perinatal period has been recommended in Australia to increase detection and follow-up of women suffering from depressive symptoms. Screening rates have gradually increased over the last decades in Australia.

Association between antenatal screening for depressive symptoms and postpartum psychiatric admissions.

Antenatal depression is the strongest predictor for postpartum depression including psychiatric admission. Universal screening for depressive symptoms during pregnancy may increase the detection of clinical depression and reduce consequent morbidity. We therefore hypothesised that antenatal screening for depressive symptoms could reduce the risk of postpartum psychiatric admissions.

The effect of antenatal screening for depression on neonatal birthweight and gestation.

Background: Antenatal depression has been associated with poor perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Universal screening of perinatal depression has been recommended to improve maternal and pregnancy outcomes.

Hypothesis And Aim: We hypothesise that screening for antenatal depressive symptoms may reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.

Screening for perinatal depression and predictors of underscreening: findings of the Born in Queensland study.

Objectives: To investigate screening with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as part of Queensland prenatal care services, as well as maternal and socio-demographic factors associated with not being screened.

Design, Setting: Cross-sectional retrospective analysis of data from the Queensland population-based Perinatal Data Collection for July 2015 - December 2015.

Participants: All women giving birth in Queensland during the second half of 2015.