Improving parental mental health in the perinatal period: A review and analysis of quality improvement initiatives

Authors

Sofia I. Perazzo, Division of Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, USA.
Margaret K. Hoge, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.
Richard J. Shaw, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Veronica Gillispie-Bell, Women's Services, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Lamia Soghier, Division of Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, USA. Electronic address: lsoghier@childrensnational.org.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-18-2024

Journal

Seminars in perinatology

DOI

10.1016/j.semperi.2024.151906

Keywords

Neonatal intensive care unit; Obstetrics; Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; Postpartum depression; Pregnancy

Abstract

Parental mental health is an essential sixth vital sign that, when taken into consideration, allows clinicians to improve clinical outcomes for both parents and infants. Although standards exist for screening, referral, and treatment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), they are not reliably done in practice, and even when addressed, interventions are often minimal in scope. Quality improvement methodology can accelerate the implementation of interventions to address PMADs, but hurdles exist, and systems are not well designed, particularly in pediatric inpatient facilities. In this article, we review the effect of PMADs on parents and their infants and identify quality improvement interventions that can increase screening and referral to treatment of parents experiencing PMADs.

APA Citation

Perazzo, Sofia I.; Hoge, Margaret K.; Shaw, Richard J.; Gillispie-Bell, Veronica; and Soghier, Lamia, "Improving parental mental health in the perinatal period: A review and analysis of quality improvement initiatives" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4704.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4704

Department

Pediatrics