Perinatal Psychiatry: Improving Access to Perinatal Mental Health Care

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Editor's ChoiceFull AccessPerinatal Psychiatry: Improving Access to Perinatal Mental Health CareKunmi Sobowale, M.D., Misty Richards, M.D., M.S., Lisa B. Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.Kunmi SobowaleSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., Misty RichardsSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., M.S., Lisa B. DixonSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., M.P.H.Published Online:1 Jan 2022https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.2021.73102AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail This Editor’s Choice collection was published online in November 2021 and refreshes the original April 2019 collection on perinatal psychiatry. To review all collections, please visit the Editor’s Choice section of ps.psychiatryonline.org.Over the past 20 years, maternal mortality in the United States has more than doubled, topping the mortality list for high-income countries. This increased rate is alarming: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700 women die each year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, and more than 50,000 women suffer from a life-threatening complication. Behavioral health conditions make up a significant proportion of perinatal morbidity and increase the risk of perinatal mortality through self-harm, unintentional overdose, inadequate management of physical health, and suicide. At least half of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; to help prevent ongoing death and suffering, stakeholders must address racial and ethnic disparities in perinatal care and reduce barriers to early health care access. Increasing access to perinatal mental health treatment will promote maternal health through improved health-related behaviors, mitigation of high-risk behaviors, and better prenatal and postnatal engagement in care.This Editor’s Choice collection builds on the April 2019 perinatal psychiatry collection and highlights innovative service models across the care continuum, from screening to longitudinal treatment. The first set of articles details the large treatment gap for perinatal mental illness despite its association with pregnancy complications. The second set of articles discusses digital health tools (e.g., mobile apps and telepsychiatry) to support perinatal mental health screening and integrated care. The last group of articles discusses the benefits of perinatal collaborative care models in controlled trials and real-world settings in socioeconomically, racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse populations. It is incumbent upon mental health clinicians to build upon the innovations in this collection to expand access to perinatal mental health care with the goal of reversing the concerning rise in maternal morbidity and mortality.THE TREATMENT GAPRelationship Between Pregnancy Complications and Psychiatric Disorders: A Population-Based Study With a Matched Control GroupKang-Yi CD, Kornfield SL, Epperson CN, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2018; 69:300–307DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201700097Mental Health Treatment and Unmet Mental Health Care Need Among Pregnant Women With Major Depressive Episode in the United StatesSanmartin MX, Ali MM, Chen J, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2019; 70:503–506DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800433State Mandates Regarding Postpartum DepressionaRowan PJ, Duckett SA, Wang JEPsychiatr Serv 2015; 66:324–328DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201300505USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH CAREEvaluation of Telepsychiatry-Enabled Perinatal Integrated CareShore JH, Waugh M, Calderone J, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2020; 71:427–432DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900143Perinatal Mental Health in Community Psychiatry: A Reproductive Psychiatry eConsult Pilot ProjectDossett EC, Benitez C, Garcia NPsychiatr Serv 2019; 70:1075–1076DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900316Use of Text Messaging for Postpartum Depression Screening and Information ProvisionaLawson A, Dalfen A, Murphy KE, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2019; 70:389–395DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800269A Mobile Application for Monitoring and Management of Depressed Mood in a Vulnerable Pregnant PopulationaHantsoo L, Criniti S, Khan A, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2018; 690:104–107DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600582INNOVATION IN COLLABORATIVE CARE AND PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTHCollaborative Care for Perinatal Depression Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Women: Adverse Neonatal Birth Events and Treatment ResponseBhat A, Grote NK, Russo J, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2017; 68:17–24DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600002Incremental Benefit-Cost of MOMCare: Collaborative Care for Perinatal Depression Among Economically Disadvantaged WomenGrote NK, Simon GE, Russo J, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2017; 68:1164–1171DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600411Increased Depression Screening and Treatment Recommendations After Implementation of a Perinatal Collaborative Care ProgramMiller ES, Grobman WA, Ciolino JD, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2021; 72:1268–1275DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000563PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM): Development and Beta TestingaByatt N, Pbert L, Hosein S, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2016; 67:824–826DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201600049Longitudinal Remote Coaching for Implementation of Perinatal Collaborative Care: A Mixed-Methods AnalysisBhat A, Bennett IM, Bauer AM, et al.Psychiatr Serv 2020; 71:518–521DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900341Pregnant and Postpartum Women With Bipolar Disorder: Taking the Care to Where They AreBhat A, Cerimele JM, Byatt NPsychiatr Serv 2018; 69:1207–1209DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800133a Article from the April 2019 Editor’s Choice on Perinatal Psychiatry FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited byNone Volume 73Issue 1 January 01, 2022Pages 116-117 Metrics PDF download History Published online 1 January 2022 Published in print 1 January 2022