Twenty-three percent of pregnant women screened at two Women, Infant and Children clinics in New Mexico met criteria for depression, according to a study by a work group of the New Mexico Health Department and state Human Services Department, the Albuquerque Journal reports.
Nationwide, 10% to 16% of pregnant women meet the criteria for depression, and 70% show some depressive symptoms, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In June, ACOG said that screening of pregnant women for depression should be “strongly considered” but that there is not enough evidence to recommend it.
The authors of the new study say their findings suggest that screening for depression should be a routine part of prenatal and postnatal care. They conducted a 10-week pilot project at WIC clinics in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, N.M., finding that 109 of 467 women who were screened had a high enough score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to require a referral.
The work group recommended increased training on depression screening tools for providers and more support groups for women, in both English and Spanish.
Signs of depression in pregnant women include feeling dread about the pregnancy, anxiety, isolation from loved ones, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, constant sadness, changes in appetite and lack of ability to experience pleasure, according to therapist Stefanie Luna.
Doctors say leaving severe depression untreated could increase the risk for low birthweight or premature birth. When women are depressed they also are less likely to care for themselves and more likely to drink or smoke. There are antidepressants that are safe to take during pregnancy (Schoenberg, Albuquerque Journal, 11/1).
National Partnership for Women & Families