# Presentation: 147173

## Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening, Accuracy and Screening Outcomes

**Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening, Accuracy and Screening Outcomes**

**Susan F. Meikle, M.D., M.S.P.H.**
**Senior Scientist for Reproductive Health**
**Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality**
**Center for Outcomes and Evidence**
**smeikle@ahrq.gov**
**Tel: 301-427-1515**
**Fax: 301-427-1520**

## Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

**Agency for Healthcare Research ****and Quality**

- _Mission_
- To improve the quality, safety, efficiency,
- and effectiveness of health care for all
- Americans

## Evidence Based Practice Centers (EPC program)

**Evidence Based Practice Centers (EPC program)**

- 13 centers selected competitively
- Carry out systematic reviews of the literature
- Provide summary statistics
- Provide information on gaps in research
- Used to develop practice guidelines

## Safe Motherhood Interagency Working Group

**Safe Motherhood Interagency ****Working Group**

- Composed of Department of Health and Human Service agencies
- Established after World Health Day in 1998
- Focus on women’s health before, during and after pregnancy
- Funded an evidence report on perinatal depression

## Key Questions and Answers from the EPC Report

**Key Questions and Answers from the EPC Report**

- _Key question #1:_
- What is the incidence and prevalence of depression (major and minor) during pregnancy and during the post partum period?
- 	Major depression: prevalence is 3-5% during pregnancy and 2-6% in 12 months after delivery
- Is it increased during pregnancy and the post partum period compared to nonchildbearing periods?
- 	Does not appear to be different

## Key question #2:

What is the accuracy of different screening tools for detecting depression during pregnancy and the post partum period?

Screening is accurate but better for major depression

Key question #3:

Does prenatal or early postnatal screening for depressive symptoms with subsequent intervention lead to improved outcomes?

Screening early does not appear to be effective but a variety of treatments do work.

- _Key question #2:_
- What is the accuracy of different screening tools for detecting depression during pregnancy and the post partum period?
- Screening is accurate but better for major depression
- _Key question #3:_
- Does prenatal or early postnatal screening for depressive symptoms with subsequent intervention lead to improved outcomes?
- Screening early does not appear to be effective but a variety of treatments do work.

**Key Questions and Answers from the EPC Report (con’t.)**

## Conclusions: 

**Conclusions: **

- Depression occurs throughout pregnancy, not just postpartum
- Accurate and feasible screening measures are available
- More information about treatment effects on perinatal outcomes is needed
- More research is needed on the rates of perinatal depression among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. population

## Implications

**Implications**

- Identified gaps in research for perinatal depression for researchers
- Guided research funding for government agencies
- Provides information for women, families, clinicians about the common nature of perinatal depression

## Resources:

**Resources:**

- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality _[www.ahrq.gov](http://www.ahrq.gov/)_
- Evidence-based Practice Centers _[www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc](http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/)__[/](http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/)_
- Perinatal Depression:  Prevalence, Screening, Accuracy and Screening Outcomes _[www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/perideptp.htm#Report](http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/perideptp.htm#Report)_