Identifying Mothers with Postpartum Depression Early : Integrating Perinatal Mental Health Care into the Obstetric Setting

Abstract EN

With prevalence rates of postnatal depression (PND) as high as at least 7%, there was a need for early detection and intervention of postpartum mental illness amongst Singaporean mothers.

This is a report on the first year results of our country's first PND Intervention Programme.

The programme consists of two phases: (1) postpartum women were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and provided appropriate care plans; (2) individualized clinical intervention using a case management multidisciplinary team model.

Screening for PND was generally acceptable, as 64% eligible women participated voluntarily.

Nine percent (126) were identified as probable cases from 1369 women.

Forty-one women accepted intervention and achieved 78% reduction in the EPDS symptom scores to below the cutoff of 13, 76% had improvement in GAF functioning scores, and 68% had improved health quality scores.

Preliminary results are promising, and this intervention model can be replicated.