Table 3 Characteristics of screening programmes for perinatal depression

Leung SS, 2011 [37]

Universal

EPDS screening

Postpartum 8 weeks

In Person

Nurse

Non-directive counselling by MCH nurses or management by the community psychiatric team for those with high EPDS scores or Suicidal ideation. This was for both the intervention and control group.

Usual practice where nurses carried out clinical assessment.

EPDS > = 10

Body weight at 6 and 18 months; number of hospitalizations and doctor visits

6 months postpartum

der Zee-van den Berg AI,2017 [39]

Universal

Repeated online screening with EPDS

Postpartum 3 weeks

Self-administered/Online

Nurse

For EPDS > = 13 refer the mother to her family practitioner or mental health care professional; for EPDS 9–12 indicating minor depression, home visits by nurses to check coping capability and if suicidal ideation, referral to crisis center.

Newborns visited WCC at the same, regular basis but received no EPDS screening that guided further advice and referral

EPDS > = 13; presence of depression (major or minor) at 9 months postpartum measured with MINI

ASQ-SE

9 months postpartum

MacArthur C, 2002 [33]

Universal

EPDS screening

Postpartum (28 days)

In Person

Midwives

Care plans were made, and visits scheduled based on these results at least every 28 days so that care could be tailored to individual, GP referrals

Physical and mental component scores of SF36 and EPDS

4 months

Morrell CJ, 2009 [13]

Universal

EPDS screening

6 weeks postpartum

Two groups: In person and postal mail

Health visitors

Cognitive behavioral and person centered (non-directive); SSRI or both SSRI plus CBA/Non-directive for those screened positive on SCAN

Usual care

EPDS score ≥ 12

6 months postpartum

Webster J, 2003 [35]

At risk

EPDS postal

Antenatal

Self-administered

Self

The Educate component of the intervention involved providing women in the intervention group with a booklet about postnatal depression and a list of the phone contacts of postnatal depression resources. The women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and their risk of developing postnatal depression was discussed with them. In the final part of the intervention (Alert), letters were sent to the women’s referring general practitioner and to their Child Health Nurse with details of their risk status

The control group received standard care, which included case management and referral to a hospital social worker or psychiatrists if required.

rate of depression at four months assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Zlotnick, 2006 [36]

At risk

Risk index questionnaire

23–32 weeks’ gestation

In Person

Research team

ROSE Program intervention based on interpersonal therapy: four 60-min group sessions with three to five women assigned to the group over a 4-week period and a 50-min individual booster session after delivery

Routine clinical care

Depression using the BDI

3 months postpartum

Glavin, 2010 [38]

Universal

EPDS

Postpartum six weeks

In Person

Nurses

Active listening and emphatic communication (non-directive counselling): phenomenon and providing information about risk factors, symptoms and the identification of mental health problems and treatment among new mothers; and then referral to mental health team

Care as usual

Depression rates using EPDS

3 months

Wickberg, 2005 [40]

Universal

EPDS

Antenatal

In Person

Self-administered

Non-directive counselling

Care as usual

EPDS scores

36 week antenatal

Yawn, 2012 [34]

Universal

Self-administered EPDS for screening and physician evaluation (using PHQ-9)

Postpartum 5–12 weeks

Postal mail

Two steps: self & Physician

Education and tools for postpartum depression screening, diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and follow-up within their practices

Usual-care practices received a 30-min presentation about postpartum depression

Rates of postpartum depression

12 months