Perinatal Mental Health - Information for Health Professionals
Minnesota's Postpartum Depression Education and Information Legislation requires hospitals, WIC clinics and providers that serve pregnant and new mothers to provide written information about postpartum depression - the info sheet and maternal wellbeing plan, these materials are available for all to use.
Info Sheet and Maternal Wellbeing Plan
Depression or Anxiety During and After Pregnancy Info Sheet and Maternal Wellbeing Plan
The requirements of this legislation can be met by sharing this info sheet and wellbeing plan. These are available in English, Amharic, Karen, Hmong, Russian, Somali and Spanish.
Tips and Tools for Implementing Screening in a Pediatric Setting
These materials were developed through the Postpartum Depression Screening Quality Improvement Project, using lessons learned.
Basic Work Flow for Screening in Well Child Checks - PHQ9 (PDF)
Basic Work Flow for Screening in Well Child Checks - EPDS (PDF)
Scripts/Words to Use in Screening for Postpartum Depression in a Pediatric Setting (PDF)
Selecting Which Well Child Visits to do a Postpartum Depression Screen (PDF)
How to Document and Chart Postpartum Depression Screening in a Pediatric Setting (PDF)
This project was administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, as part of a larger Adult Medicaid Quality Grant from the CMS, awarded to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. This project is funded in whole by Federal money provided by the Adult Medicaid Quality Grants Program as defined in section 2744(c)(2) and 2745 (g) of the Public Health Service Act.
Screening Tools
Universal (not risk-based) Perinatal Mood Disorder screening is recommended for postpartum mothers, in the first 12 months of the child's life.
Pre-Screening Tools
- Patient health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) (PDF)
Ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression.
- Patient health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) (PDF)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN).
- Anxiety and Depression Screen (PHQ-4)
Gastroenterology & Hepatology Resources.
Screening fathers or other primary caregivers, or screening mother by proxy
- PHQ9
Father - The PHQ9 has been tested and validated on a variety of adult (and adolescent) populations, so it can be used to screen any adult who is accompanying the child. - EPDS
Father - The EDPS, while created specifically for the postpartum visit, has been validated for men as well, using a different cut off point.
Partner - The EPDS could also be used by the partner, to answer the questions for the mother, as a proxy. This will also need a different cut off point, likely >5.
More Information on Screening Tools and Options for Alternative Languages
Research on Screening Tools
- Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
- Postpartum Depression Screening at Well-Child Visits: Validity of a 2-Question Screen and the PHQ-9
- An ultra-brief screening scale for anxiety and depression: the PHQ-4
- Postpartum Depression Screening at Well-Child Visits: Validity of a 2-Question Screen and the PHQ-9
- Postpartum Depression: The Reliability of Telephone Screening
Billing Guide
- DHS Billing Policy Overview
For public health.
Pediatric Visits
Screening at Well-Child Visits
- Child and Teen Checkups Schedule
In Minnesota, Maternal Depression screening is now a recommended activity for Child and Teen Checkups (C &TC).
Screening Workflows
Here are two work flows, developed by through the Postpartum Depression Screening Quality Improvement Project, for implementing universal PPD(A) screening within well child checks:
Research on screening in Well-Child Visits
- Incorporating Recognition and Management of Perinatal and Postpartum Depression into Pediatric Practice
- Postpartum Depression Screening at Well-Child Visits: Validity of a 2-Question Screen and the PHQ-9
Brief Maternal Depression Screening at Well-Child Visits.
Postpartum Visits
- Screening for Depression During and After Pregnancy
ACOG Committee Opinion.
Training
Additional training for professionals can be found at these websites.
- Depression in Mothers: More Than the Blues
A free toolkit designed for providers who come in contact with mothers experiencing depression. It includes facts about depression, screening tools, referrals, resources and handouts for mothers who are depressed.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Toolkit for providers.
Posters
Posters and flyers can be a good way to raise awareness in your practice about postpartum depression.
