Best practices: community-based postpartum depression screening: results from the CARE study.
This column describes findings and best-practice recommendations from CARE (Communicating and Relating Effectively), a prospective randomized study in which 5,169 mothers were screened for postpartum depression. The prevalence rate was 13%. Results support use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale and a diagnostic assessment for those who screen positive. Of the 674 mothers with positive screens, 26% were not asked about their emotional state by clinicians. Screening must be linked to treatment options via referral and follow-up. Best-practice strategies for implementing screening include educating clinicians and postpartum women.
Horowitz
June Andrews
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W F Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. horowitz@bc.edu
Murphy
Christine A
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Gregory
Katherine E
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Wojcik
Joanne
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008404:Massachusetts; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult