Screening Guidelines

At the present time, there are relatively few published evidence-based practice guidelines specifically focusing on postpartum depression. Those that are available are highlighted below.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 119. AHRQ Publication No. 05-E006-2. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2005.
  http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/peridepr/peridep.pdf
  
  This evidence review prepared by AHRQ addresses the prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression, the accuracy of screening instruments for perinatal depression, and the effectiveness of interventions for women who are found to be at high risk for developing perinatal depression.
• Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario. Interventions for Postpartum Depression. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2005.
  http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=924&ContentID=806
  
  The focus of this guideline is on the confirmation, prevention, and treatment of mothers with depressive symptoms in the first postpartum year. Clinical questions addressed are:
  1. How can nurses accurately confirm depressive symptoms in postpartum women?
  2. What effective prevention interventions can nurses implement in practice?
  3. What effective treatment interventions can nurses implement in practice?
• Postnatal Depression and Puerperal Psychosis: A National Clinical Guideline. SIGN 60, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, June 2002.
  http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign60.pdf
  
  These guidelines were created by reviewing all of the published evidence in this area as well as a survey to determine what support was offered across Scotland to sufferers of postnatul depression and puerperal psychosis. Topics covered include early diagnosis, screening and prevention; management of postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis following diagnosis; prescribing issues during pregnancy and breastfeeding; information to be discussed with patients; resources required to implement the guideline and reduce regional variation in service provision; and areas that require further research.