Carry on screening

The enigma of post-natal depression: an update

“…This incorporates the concept of predicting and detecting mental health problems, in contrast to screening following surreptitious advancement. Processes include: recognizing mental health problems during pregnancy and in the first year post birth; the care and treatment (including drugs and psychological treatments) of women who develop mental health problems during pregnancy or post birth; the care of women likely to develop a problem during pregnancy or post‐partum, and that of women with a pre‐existing mental health problem and how families and carers may provide support (Martin & Redshaw 2009).…”

“…Contemporary screening practice for PND involves a number of complex and unresolved, and possibly irresolvable concerns (Martin & Redshaw 2009). The evaluation of established screening tools for PND such as the EPDS (Cox et al .…”

“…1999) for assessing and monitoring outcomes of PND. This may create confusion for practitioners, since they are confronted by guidelines that do not recommend a particular instrument (Martin & Redshaw 2009). In Scotland, alternative guidelines are applied that specifically recommend the EPDS (Cox et al .…”

“…Contemporary screening practice for PND involves a number of complex and unresolved, and possibly irresolvable concerns (Martin & Redshaw 2009). The evaluation of established screening tools for PND such as the EPDS (Cox et al 1987), has assisted recognition of sub-scales within the instrument which may increase screening efficiency or permit detection of other psychological phenomenon such as anxiety (Brouwers et al 2001, Ross et al 2003, Jomeen & Martin 2005, 2007.…”

“…National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2007) guidelines advise healthcare professionals to use self-report measures such as the EPDS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond & Snaith 1983) or Patient Health Questionnaire (Spitzer et al 1999) for assessing and monitoring outcomes of PND. This may create confusion for practitioners, since they are confronted by guidelines that do not recommend a particular instrument (Martin & Redshaw 2009). In Scotland, alternative guidelines are applied that specifically recommend the EPDS (Cox et al 1987) for the screening of PND (SIGN 2002) with this recommendation underpinned by extensive research relating to its use (Martin & Redshaw 2009).…”