title: The long-term follow-up of women treated for postnatal depression at a specialist day hospital compared to routine primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postnatal depression affects approximately 13% of childbearing women. There are very few specialist treatment centres, despite emerging evidence that these units are superior to routine primary care in the short term. We investigated the long-term benefits of treatment for postnatal depression at a specialist day unit, compared to routine primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who took part in an earlier study of postnatal depression were invited to participate in this follow-up. Self-report questionnaires (the Work, Leisure and Family Life Questionnaire - Modified (WLFQ-M) and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS)) were administered, together with the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). Information was also obtained regarding subsequent children and depressive episodes since the initial study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the original cohort of 60 women, 23 agreed to participate in the follow-up. There were no significant differences between DAS and WLFLQ-M scores or ICD-10 diagnoses of depressive episode between the women who had previously received specialist care. However, the numbers were small and make conclusions difficult. Qualitative analysis suggests that treatment at a specialist unit is beneficial in the long term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further, larger studies of the long-term benefits of specialist treatment need to be carried out. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2002; 6: 199-203 ).
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boath
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cox
keywords: Day Hospital; Depression; Follow-UP Studies; Postnatal