How do women’s self-report symptoms impact on identification of perinatal mental health problems?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-06-2016-0029 |
| Pages | 173-187 |
| Date | 08 May 2017 |
| Published date | 08 May 2017 |
| Author | Patricia M. Jarrett |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
How do women’s self-report symptoms
impact on identification of perinatal
mental health problems?
Patricia M. Jarrett
Abstract
Purpose –Perinatal depression is common and increases the risk of adverse outcomes for both the mother
and child. Despite regular contact with midwives and GPs during the perinatal period less than 50 per cent of
women with depression are identified and treated. A number of reasons for this have been proposed;
however, failure of health professionals to recognise the symptoms women present with may contribute. The
purpose of this paper is twofold: to explore women’s self-report symptoms of perinatal depression and
understand how the symptoms women present with might impact on identification.
Design/methodology/approach –Women were invited to post their experiences of perinatal depression
on one of two online discussion forums over a nine-month period. Data were analysed using a process of
deductive thematic analysis informed by cognitive behavioural therapy.
Findings –Women’s symptoms were presented using five headings: triggers (for perinatal depression),
thoughts, moods, physical reactions and behaviours. Women believed having a previous mental
health problem contri buted to their depressi on. Women’s self-report symptoms included intrusive and
violent thoughts; emotional responses including fear, worry and anger; and somatic symptoms
including insomnia and weight changes. Women also reported aggressive behaviour and social withdrawal
as part of their depressive symptomatology. Symptoms women present with may negatively impact on
identification as the y often overlap with those of pr egnancy; may not be include d in the criteria for
mental health assessment and may involve undesirable and socially unacceptable behaviour, making
disclosure difficult.
Practical implications –A more inclusive understanding of women’s self-report symptoms of perinatal
depression is called for, if identification is to improve.
Originality/value –This paper offers an analysis of women’s self-report symptoms of depression, in the
context of identification of perinatal mental health problems.
Keywords Identification, Women’s experience, Depression symptoms, Internet forums,
Perinatal depression
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Perinatal depression (depression experienced during pregnancy and/or the postnatal period
(up to 1 year after birth)) is common (O’Keane and Marsh, 2007) and can have serious adverse
effects for the mother (Bansil et al., 2010), the unborn child (Kim et al., 2013; Grote et al., 2010)
and for the child in later life (Bauer et al., 2014; Glover, 2014; Graignic-Philippe et al., 2014).
Despite these potent ial negative outcomes , pregnancy-relate d depression often goes
unrecognised and untreated (Bauer et al., 2014).
One of the biggest barriers in providing support to women is the lack of identification of perinatal
mental health problems by health professionals (Khan, 2015). Without identification, treatment
and management cannot occur (Buist, 2002). Those factors which affect identification of
perinatal mental health problems are complex and can include lack of training and lack of
confidence amongst those caring for women (Khan, 2015; Byatt et al., 2012; Jarrett, 2014).
Received 5 June 2016
Revised 30 October 2016
15 January 2017
Accepted 6 February 2017
This study was funded by The
Burdett Trust for Nursing. Full
costs for the project were made.
The Burdett Trust for Nursing had
no involvement in the conduct of
the research. Burdett grant 251/
308 (NC).
Patricia M. Jarrett is a Research
Fellow at the Centre for Critical
Research in Nursing and
Midwifery (CCRNM), School of
Health and Education,
Middlesex University, London,
UK.
DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-06-2016-0029 VOL. 12 NO. 3 2017, pp. 173-187, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228
j
THE JOURNAL OF MENTALHEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
j
PAGE173
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