Characteristics of patients in a new perinatal mental health program

Background Perinatal mental illness is a significant complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period. These disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, and postpartum psychosis. This mental health conditions have the potential to impact negatively on not only the woman but also her partner, infant, and family. Early detection and effective management of perinatal psychiatric disorders are critical for the welfare of women and their offspring. Objective To evaluate the characteristics of patients who came to the new perinatal mental health program in the last 6 months. Methods We recruited 13 mothers to take part in the study. Control variables included demographic and sociodemographic variables, pregnancy variables, antenatal and postpartum health behaviours, and birth outcomes. We assessed the improvement with Clinical Global Impressions Scale in the beginning of intervention and 3 months later. Results Eight mothers were in the antenatal period, three in the postpartum, and one had suffered the pregnancy lost in the 36 week. The mean age was 33,44. The diagnoses were anxiety disorder (4), antenatal depression (2), postpartum depression (2), obsessive-compulsive disorder (1), bulimia nervosa (1), adjustment disorder (2) and complicated grief (1). Nine of them have a previous psychiatric history. All of them have been treated with psychosocial interventions, and in six cases have received psychopharmacological treatment. In all the cases, we observed a clinical improvement (CGI scale) Conclusions Perinatal mental illness is a significant complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period, and need of specific programs and interventions.