Management of Prenatal Depression

Depression affects many women during and after pregnancy. As many as 1 in 5 women will experience a depressive episode during their pregnancy, however, studies have shown that less than 20% of these women will discuss their symptoms with their healthcare provider and receive care. Barriers to treatment include poor screening, lack of understanding about safe treatment, and stigma against mental illness in pregnant women. This project aimed to address this issue locally, by presenting to a group of family medicine providers in Vermont on the topic of prenatal depression screening and treatment. The presentation was received well and developed further discussion on research looking into maternal depression at this site.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1341/thumbnail.jp