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Physicians Encouraged to Screen Women for Depression During, After Pregnancy WASHINGTON, DC -- January 23, 2010 -- Screening for depression during pregnancy and afterward benefits women, infants, and families, according to a new Committee Opinion issued today by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Because pregnancy and the postpartum period are pivotal times to identify women suffering from depression, the College encourages OB/GYN’s to strongly consider screening for it. Studies have shown that untreated maternal depression negatively affects an infant’s cognitive, neurologic, and motor skill development. A mother’s untreated depression can also negatively impact older children’s mental health and behaviour. During pregnancy, depression can lead to preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. “As OB/GYN’s, we recognise that postpartum depression is a serious health issue that we need to direct more attention toward,” said Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Covington, Louisiana, and Louisiana State University at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana. “Screening for depression during pregnancy is also important to identify it early on and to help prevent a worsening of the condition after delivery. “With over 4 million births in the US every year, we’re talking about a huge number of women with postpartum depression -- between 200,000 to more than one million each year.” “Unfortunately, we don’t have the data at this time to support a firm recommendation for universal antepartum and postpartum depression screening,” said Dr. Joseph. “Nonetheless, we realise the importance of screening our patients so that we can start gathering the data for future evidence-based guidelines.” Multiple depression screening tools are available, according to the new Committee Opinion. Women diagnosed with depression during pregnancy or postpartum should be referred for treatment and follow-up evaluation. SOURCE: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version