American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 5 , Pages e63-e64, May 2009

Universal screening for postpartum depression: an inquiry into provider attitudes and practice

Presented at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, June 2008, the Ross Society Annual Meeting, April 2008 and the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, January 2009.

  • Rachel Delatte, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Rachel Delatte, MD, 118 Old Maple Ln., Durham, NC 27713
    • ,
  • Hongyuan Cao, BS, MS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
    • ,
  • Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
    • ,
  • M. Kathryn Menard, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Received 9 August 2008; received in revised form 26 October 2008; accepted 10 December 2008. published online 16 March 2009.

Objective

This study evaluated the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for detection of postpartum depression (PPD) in an academic medical center outpatient population and assessed knowledge and attitudes of obstetric providers regarding detection and treatment of PPD.

Study Design

A total of 512 charts were reviewed for demographic, medical, and psychiatric information. Also, a validated e-mail survey was sent to University of North Carolina obstetrical providers (n = 47).

Results

Our chart review revealed that providers documented the EPDS score in 39% of visits and counseled patients on their score and/or depression in 35% of visits. The survey results show that all respondents agree that they are responsible for screening for PPD, and 94% are confident in diagnosing PPD.

Conclusion

The majority of obstetric providers are not documenting the EPDS in their postpartum assessment, yet they feel responsible for and confident in screening for postpartum depression.

Key words: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, postpartum depression, screening, survey

 

PII: S0002-9378(08)02421-6

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.12.022

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 5 , Pages e63-e64, May 2009

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