Postnatal depression: a family medicine perspective

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Mental Health

Background:

• Postnatal depression (PND) affects 6.8% of mothers in Singapore.
• Untreated PND has severe consequences for mothers, infants, and families, including impaired bonding and development.
• Primary care physicians are crucial for identifying and managing PND in postnatal mothers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the prevalence of PND in Singapore.
• To emphasize the role of primary care in PND screening and management.
• To discuss available screening tools and local resources for mothers.

Main Methods:

• Review of PND prevalence data in Singapore.
• Discussion of effective screening tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2).
• Outline of management options and local resources within primary care settings.

Main Results:

• PND prevalence is 6.8% in Singapore.
• EPDS and PHQ-2 are effective and easily implementable screening tools for primary care.
• Primary care settings are well-positioned for early PND detection and intervention.

Conclusions:

• Primary care physicians play a vital role in screening for and managing postnatal depression.
• Timely intervention through primary care can mitigate adverse outcomes for mothers and infants.
• Accessible screening tools and local resources are essential for supporting mothers' mental health.