Brief maternal depression screening at well-child visits

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Mental Health Screening
• Public Health

Background:

• Maternal depression is a significant concern impacting child development.
• Integrating mental health screening into pediatric care is crucial for early intervention.
• Pediatric well-child visits offer a unique opportunity to reach mothers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and yield of maternal depression screening during pediatric well-child visits.
• To understand pediatrician and mother responses to depression screening.
• To evaluate the time investment for discussing screening results.

Main Methods:

• A 2-question Patient Health Questionnaire was used for screening in 3 rural pediatric practices.
• Two trials were conducted: a 1-month screening introduction and a 6-month sustainability assessment.
• Data on screening proportions, mother responses, and pediatrician actions were collected.

Main Results:

• Screening was feasible in the majority of visits (67-74%).
• 17% of mothers reported depressive symptoms, and 6% were at risk for major depressive disorder.
• Pediatricians intervened with over 60% of positive screens, with discussions rarely exceeding 10 minutes.

Conclusions:

• Brief maternal depression screening during well-child visits is feasible and identifies mothers willing to discuss mental health.
• Screening effectively detects depression and stress, prompting pediatrician action and referrals.
• The integration of screening into routine care is efficient, with minimal impact on visit duration.