Perinatal depression is a common condition with significant adverse maternal, fetal, neonatal, and early childhood outcomes. The perinatal period is an opportune time to screen, diagnose, and treat depression. Improved recognition of perinatal depression, particularly among low-income women, can lead to improved perinatal health outcomes.
Perinatal depression is a significant mental and public health problem and may be one of the most disabling disorders among women of childbearing age.Perinatal depression is associated with a multitude of negative sequelae for women, children, and families, including poor maternal-fetal attachment, adverse neonatal outcomes (low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age), poor infant attachment, early childhood developmental delays, and relationship strain.
Despite the prevalence and sequelae of perinatal depression, most women who present with depressive symptoms are not screened and do not receive adequate treatment. Even in health systems that perform “universal screening” for antenatal depression, only about a third of the charts have documented depression screening scores and provider counseling. These shortcomings are disconcerting, as research suggests that effective treatment is available for antenatal depression and that diagnosed women are more likely to receive treatment.