Are virtual services equivalent for mood, anxiety, and bonding? examining a perinatal intensive outpatient program.

Purpose: Perinatal Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) address severe perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and mother-infant relationship concerns. Given the impact of PMADs on mothers and infants, rapid transitions to virtual services (telehealth) amid COVID-19, and service expansions to populations in need, it is critical to evaluate how effectively virtual and in-person perinatal IOP services treat PMADs and mother-infant bonding.

Methods: This quality-improvement record review examined patient records (n = 361) for a perinatal IOP from May 2016 to July 2023, amid multiple transitions between in-person and virtual services related to COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.