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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1808-5295

Corresponding Author

Lakshmi Velayudam

laxmi_vsm@yahoo.com

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy and postpartum are a period of vulnerability in a women’s life for developing mental health problems. Perinatal psychiatric illness has various adverse outcome on maternal, neonatal and child health.

Objective: To study the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and its outcome among women in the perinatal period.

Method: It is a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital where antenatal and postnatal women were screened for psychiatric disorder using patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale (EPDS) respectively. Total of 140 women diagnosed with psychiatric disorder were followed up for a year and outcome noted.

Results: Depression (62.7%) was the most common psychiatric disorder seen in the antenatal (62.7%) and postpartum period (80%). More than 70% of the women who had psychiatric problems during antenatal care (76.3%) and postnatal period (71.6%) who were treated with psychotherapy had recovered within 12 months.

Conclusion: Comprehensive modality that includes obstetric care by early screening and psychiatric care by diagnosis and treatment, is required for optimal psychological and physical health of a women during the period of pregnancy and postpartum.

Publication Date

2024

Publisher

JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research

Conflict of Interest

None.

Keywords

Perinatal, Depression, Pregnancy, Mental health, Anxiety disorder

Word Count

2019

Comments

None.

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