Postpartum depression screening: initial implementation in a multispecialty practice with collaborative care...

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-22% of new mothers, with fewer than half of cases recognized.
• Undiagnosed PPD has detrimental effects on child development.
• Primary care settings often lack systematic PPD screening protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development and implementation of a PPD screening protocol in a multispecialty clinic.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing depression care managers in PPD screening.
• To report preliminary results of the PPD screening process.

Main Methods:

• A PPD screening protocol was developed and implemented in a multispecialty clinic.
• Depression care managers were utilized for screening implementation.
• Data were collected over a 4-month period from 333 screened examinations.

Main Results:

• The screening compliance rate was 47.9%.
• 4.5% of screened examinations were positive for possible PPD.
• No significant difference was found in positive screening results based on the timing of well-child visits or by provider specialty (pediatrics vs. family medicine).

Conclusions:

• Implementation of PPD screening in a multispecialty clinic is effective when depression care managers are utilized.
• Systematic screening protocols are crucial for identifying PPD in primary care settings.
• Further integration of PPD screening can improve early detection and intervention for mothers.