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Perinatal Psychiatry


April 2019

Providing high-quality psychiatric care during the perinatal period has been a growing area of focus. The perinatal period, defined as the period during pregnancy until one year after delivery, is an especially vulnerable time, when women are navigating complex hormonal, neurochemical, and identity shifts. Specifically, perinatal depression affects up to 20% of mothers, elevating this issue to a public health emergency. Just a few months ago, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a recommendation that clinicians provide or refer pregnant and postpartum women who are at increased risk of perinatal depression to counseling interventions before symptoms become severe. This collection of articles from the past 20 years reflects the evolution of the field, first introducing the complex presentation of perinatal mental illness, then taking a closer look at practice habits, including prescribing trends, and exploring the challenges associated with access to care, including stigma. It concludes by exploring the movement toward collaborative care models. This collection mirrors the development of the field of perinatal psychiatry, which calls for early identification and accessible, practical treatment interventions for at-risk mothers.

Misty Richards, M.D., M.S.
Lisa B. Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.


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Best Practices
An Emerging Best Practice Model for Perinatal Depression Care
Dorothy K. Y. Sit, M.D., Cheryl Flint, Donald Svidergol, R.N., M.H.P., Joanne White, L.S.W., Michelle Wimer, B.S.W., Bettina Bish, B.S.W., Katherine L. Wisner, M.D.
2009, Volume 60, Issue 11, pp. 1429–1431


Best Practices
Community-Based Postpartum Depression Screening: Results From the CARE Study
June Andrews Horowitz, Ph.D., R.N., Christine A. Murphy, Ph.D., R.N., Katherine E. Gregory, Ph.D., R.N., Joanne Wojcik, M.S., R.N.
2009, Volume 60, Issue 11, pp. 1432–1434


Article
Depression Screening of Perinatal Women: An Evaluation of the Healthy Start Depression Initiative
Kimberly A. Yonkers, M.D., Megan V. Smith, D.Ph., Haliqun Lin, Ph.D., Heather B. Howell, M.S.W., Lin Shao, M.P.H., Robert A. Rosenheck, M.D.
2009, Volume 60, Issue 3, pp. 322–328


Article
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Culturally Relevant, Brief Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Perinatal Depression
Nancy K. Grote, Ph.D., Holly A. Swartz, M.D., Sharon L. Geibel, L.C.S.W., Allan Zuckoff, Ph.D., Patricia R. Houck, M.S.H., Ellen Frank, Ph.D.
2009, Volume 60, Issue 3, pp. 313–321


Brief Report
Use of Antidepressant Medication in the United States During Pregnancy, 2002–2010
Matthew Ryan Meunier, M.D., Ian M. Bennett, M.D., Ph.D., and Andrew S. Coco, M.D., M.S.
2013, Volume 64, Issue 11, pp. 1157–1160


Brief Report
State Mandates Regarding Postpartum Depression
Paul J. Rowan, Ph.D., M.P.H., Stephen A. Duckett, M.P.H., John E. Wang, B.S.
2015, Volume 66, Issue 3, pp. 324–328


Best Practices
PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM): Development and Beta Testing
Nancy Byatt, D.O., M.S., Lori Pbert, Ph.D., Safiyah Hosein, B.A., Holly A. Swartz, M.D., Linda Weinreb, M.D., Jeroan Allison, M.D., M.S., Douglas Ziedonis, M.D., M.P.H.
2016, Volume 67, Issue 8, pp. 824–826


Article
Public Attitudes and Feelings of Warmth Toward Women and Men Experiencing Depression During the Perinatal Period
Jennifer N. Felder, Ph.D., Sarah Banchefsky, Ph.D., Bernadette Park, Ph.D., Sona Dimidjian, Ph.D.
2017, Volume 68, Issue 8, pp. 796–802


APA Achievement Award
Gold Award: Building the Capacity of Frontline Providers to Treat Mental and Substance Use Disorders Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) for Moms, Boston
2017, Volume 68, Issue 10, pp. e1–e3


Brief Report
A Mobile Application for Monitoring and Management of Depressed Mood in a Vulnerable Pregnant Population
Liisa Hantsoo, Ph.D., Stephanie Criniti, M.S., Annum Khan, B.A., Marian Moseley, M.S.S., M.P.H., Naomi Kincler, M.P.H., Laura J. Faherty, M.D., M.P.H., C. Neill Epperson, M.D., Ian M. Bennett, M.D., Ph.D.
2018, Volume 69, Issue 1, pp. 104–107


Article
Use of Text Messaging for Postpartum Depression Screening and Information Provision
Andrea Lawson, Ph.D., Ariel Dalfen, M.D., Kellie E. Murphy, M.D., Natasha Milligan, B.Sc., William Lancee, Ph.D.
2019, Volume 70, Issue 5, pp. 389–395


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