Screening to Treatment: Obstacles and Predictors in Perinatal Depression (STOP-PPD) in the Dallas Healthy Start program.

Healthy Start programs have made tremendous contributions toward improving the health of mothers and infants through the screening and early detection of perinatal depression. In a collaborative partnership with the Dallas Healthy Start (DHS) program, this pilot study investigated rates of follow-up to systematic referrals for the treatment of perinatal depression in the DHS, as well as identified specific barriers and predictors or treatment follow-up. Results of this study support strengthening existing community-based treatment programs for perinatal depression.

Antenatal depression: a rationale for studying exercise.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) in pregnancy or antenatal depression poses unique treatment challenges and has serious consequences for mothers, unborn babies, and families when untreated. This review presents current knowledge on exercise during pregnancy, antidepressant effects of exercise, and the rationale for the specific study of exercise for antenatal depression. METHOD: A systematic literature review was performed using English language articles published in Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from 1985 to January 2010. RESULTS: There is a broad literature supporting the antidepressant effects of exercise, but a paucity of studies specifically for antenatal depression. A small number of observational studies have reported that regular physical activities improve self-esteem and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy. To date, there have not been randomized controlled studies of exercise for the treatment of MDD in pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic studies are needed to assess exercise as a treatment alternative for MDD during pregnancy. In consideration of the benefits of exercise for the mother and baby, and the burden of depression, studies are needed to determine the role of exercise for pregnant women with depression.

Progression of major depression during pregnancy and postpartum: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate major depressive symptoms among a high-risk group of pregnant women managed at a tertiary care setting. METHOD: The study prospectively evaluated pregnant women who met DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode (MDE). Psychiatric measures for depression, anxiety and social impairment were administered at monthly intervals during pregnancy and immediate postpartum period. RESULTS: Twenty-four women provided longitudinal data from mid pregnancy to 2 months of postpartum period. 86% of women were clinically symptomatic at the beginning of study during pregnancy and only 32% remained clinically symptomatic at 2 months following delivery reaching. This difference reached a statistical significance level p < 0.001. Pregnant women with prior histories of major depression, comorbid anxiety disorder, histories of domestic violence, and those with uninvolved spouse or partners were more at-risk to be clinically symptomatic in the immediate postpartum period. CONCLUSIONS: In a group consisting of largely Latina women at a tertiary care setting, progression of major depression when treated with antidepressant medication(s) is that of an improvement from pregnancy to immediate postpartum period. Further longitudinal studies are needed to assess impact of clinical characteristics and treatment on major depression in larger diverse obstetric group.

A prospective study of postpartum depression in 17 648 parturients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess perinatal antecedents to postpartum depression (PPD). METHODS: This was a prospective population-based, observational study of women screened for symptoms of depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with scores ≥13 referred for psychiatric evaluation. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were analyzed using univariable and multivariable analysis for associations with postpartum depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Of 25 050 women delivered, 17 648 (71%) completed EPDS questionnaires with 1106 (6.3%) scoring ≥13. Perinatal complications most associated with EPDS scores ≥13 included major malformation (adjusted OR 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3), neonatal death (adjusted OR 5.8; 95% CI, 2.9-11.4), stillbirth (adjusted OR 9.4; 95% CI, 6.0-14.8), and necrotizing enterocolitis (adjusted OR 21.7; 95% CI, 1.9-244.3). A total of 238 (22%) women kept their psychiatric referral appointment, and 111 (47%) were diagnosed with PPD. Perinatal factors were also found to be significantly associated with PPD. CONCLUSIONS: PPD is significantly increased in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially involving the infant.