Maternal Functioning and Depression Scores Improve Significantly With Participation in Visiting Moms® Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Barkin ◽  
Laura Beals ◽  
Christy C. Bridges ◽  
Amara Ezeamama ◽  
Marta Serati ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing can affect the entire family unit. Health professionals must strive to identify and develop effective, feasible solutions for women during this critical period. AIMS: To determine whether postpartum maternal functioning (as measured by the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning) and depression symptoms (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were improved after participation in the Visiting Moms program. METHOD: Paired data were collected from women at program intake and after completion of the Visiting Moms program. Visiting Moms provides services through eastern and central Massachusetts and was designed to support new mothers throughout the infant’s first year of life. The study population was composed of adult women living in the Jewish Family and Children’s Services geographic catchment area, who enrolled in Visiting Moms between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all 402 women enrolled in this timeframe. Utilizing a pretest/posttest design, paired t tests were performed for the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning ( n = 149) and for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ( n = 156), where women had complete scores at both intake and completion, to determine the program’s potential impact on depressive symptoms and functional status. RESULTS: Functioning and depression scores were significantly improved after participation in the program. CONCLUSIONS: Visiting moms, and similar programs, aimed at delivery of enhanced social support, may be effective in promoting mental and emotional wellness among new mothers who are require additional support in the postpartum period.

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Maroufizadeh ◽  
Reza Omani-Samani ◽  
Amir Almasi-Hashiani ◽  
Payam Amini ◽  
Mahdi Sepidarkish

Abstract Background Depression in patients with infertility often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and its ultra-brief version (i.e. PHQ-2) are widely used measures of depressive symptoms. These scales have not been validated in patients with infertility. The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with infertility. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 539 patients with infertility from a referral infertility clinic in Tehran, Iran completed the PHQ-9, along with other relevant scales: the WHO-five Well-being Index (WHO-5), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Factor structure and internal consistency of PHQ-9 were examined via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. Convergent validity was evaluated by relationship with WHO-5, HADS and GAD-7. Results The mean total PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 scores were 8.47 ± 6.17 and 2.42 ± 1.86, respectively, and using a cut-off value of 10 (for PHQ-9) and 3 (for PHQ-2), the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 38.6 and 43.6%, respectively. The Cronbach’s alphas for PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 were, respectively, 0.851 and 0.767, indicating good internal consistency. The CFA results confirmed the one-factor model of the PHQ-9 (χ2/df = 4.29; CFI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.078 and SRMR = 0.044). Both PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 showed moderate to strong correlation with the measures of WHO-5, HADS-depression, HADS-anxiety, and the GAD-7, confirming convergent validity. In univariate analysis, female sex, long infertility duration, and unsuccessful treatment were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion Both PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 are brief and easy to use measures of depressive symptoms with good psychometric properties that appear suitable for routine use in patients with infertility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e000751
Author(s):  
Mohamed Mansour ◽  
Dharshana Krishnaprasadh ◽  
Janice Lichtenberger ◽  
Jonathan Teitelbaum

BackgroundDepression, which is a serious medical illness, is prevalent worldwide and it negatively impacts the adolescent lifestyle. Adolescent depression is associated with adverse emotional and functional outcomes and suboptimal physical health. Over the last decade, it has been found that approximately 9% of teenagers meet the criteria for depression at any given time, and one in five teenagers have a history of depression during adolescence. Ninety per cent of paediatricians believe that recognition of child and adolescent depression is their responsibility; however, it has been reported that 46% lacked confidence that they could recognise depression.MethodsIn this study, adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age were screened during their well-child visits using the Patient Health Questionnaire Modified for Adolescents. A score of 10 or higher warrants a referral to a social worker and psychiatrist. The goals of this quality improvement project were to implement a standardised questionnaire and to improve the screening, diagnosis and treatment of depression in children from 12 to 17 years of age.ResultsIt was found that the adolescent depression screening rate significantly improved within 6 months of implementing this quality improvement project. The screening rate improved to 50% by mid-cycle (Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle 3) and up to 70% at the end of the 6-month period (PDSA cycle 5). Improvement was noted among all providers, across all age groups, and in both male and female patients by the end of the study period.ConclusionStandardised screening tests with a scoring system help providers to identify and monitor depression symptoms using a common language, especially in the outpatient clinical setting where the patient may be seen by different providers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e8 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Torous ◽  
Patrick Staples ◽  
Meghan Shanahan ◽  
Charlie Lin ◽  
Pamela Peck ◽  
...  

Background Accurate reporting of patient symptoms is critical for diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in psychiatry. Smartphones offer an accessible, low-cost means to collect patient symptoms in real time and aid in care. Objective To investigate adherence among psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder in utilizing their personal smartphones to run a custom app to monitor Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression symptoms, as well as to examine the correlation of these scores to traditionally administered (paper-and-pencil) PHQ-9 scores. Methods A total of 13 patients with major depressive disorder, referred by their clinicians, received standard outpatient treatment and, in addition, utilized their personal smartphones to run the study app to monitor their symptoms. Subjects downloaded and used the Mindful Moods app on their personal smartphone to complete up to three survey sessions per day, during which a randomized subset of PHQ-9 symptoms of major depressive disorder were assessed on a Likert scale. The study lasted 29 or 30 days without additional follow-up. Outcome measures included adherence, measured by the percentage of completed survey sessions, and estimates of daily PHQ-9 scores collected from the smartphone app, as well as from the traditionally administered PHQ-9. Results Overall adherence was 77.78% (903/1161) and varied with time of day. PHQ-9 estimates collected from the app strongly correlated (r=.84) with traditionally administered PHQ-9 scores, but app-collected scores were 3.02 (SD 2.25) points higher on average. More subjects reported suicidal ideation using the app than they did on the traditionally administered PHQ-9. Conclusions Patients with major depressive disorder are able to utilize an app on their personal smartphones to self-assess their symptoms of major depressive disorder with high levels of adherence. These app-collected results correlate with the traditionally administered PHQ-9. Scores recorded from the app may potentially be more sensitive and better able to capture suicidality than the traditional PHQ-9.


2012 ◽  
Vol 199 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon D. Elhai ◽  
Ateka A. Contractor ◽  
Marijo Tamburrino ◽  
Thomas H. Fine ◽  
Marta R. Prescott ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Sylvia E. Badon ◽  
Esti Iturralde ◽  
Linda Nkemere ◽  
Nerissa Nance ◽  
Lyndsay A. Avalos

Background: Physical activity (PA) can help reduce depression symptom severity in women with perinatal depression. However, PA is low, and barriers and motivators for PA among women with perinatal depression are not well understood. Methods: An ethnically diverse sample of women with perinatal depression was identified using a universal perinatal depression screening program. The authors conducted 8 focus groups (4 in pregnant women [n = 15] and 4 in postpartum women [n = 20]). Depression symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 at recruitment. Focus groups were analyzed using an inductive approach. Results: Pregnant participants were 27 weeks gestation, and postpartum participants were 11.5 months postpartum, on average. Depression symptoms were moderately severe (mean Patient Health Questionnaire-8 score: 16). Women identified practical barriers and motivators for PA common to perinatal women (physical health, parental responsibilities, PA tracking tools, and environmental factors) and described emotional and social factors influencing PA. Motivators included using PA to improve mood, relieve stress, boost self-image, and spend time with others. Bad mood, fear of social judgment, and feeling discouraged made it difficult to be active. Conclusion: PA interventions in women with perinatal depression should include components addressing emotional and social barriers to PA in addition to addressing additional common practical barriers to PA.


2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricarda Mewes ◽  
Winfried Rief ◽  
Alexandra Martin ◽  
Heide Glaesmer ◽  
Elmar Brähler

Hintergrund: Gegenüberstellende epidemiologische Studien zur psychischen Gesundheit bei verschiedenen Migrantengruppen in Deutschland fehlen weitgehend. Sie sind jedoch von großer Wichtigkeit, um den Therapiebedarf für diese Gruppen zu bestimmen und Angebote entsprechend auszurichten. Die vorliegende Studie möchte die Ausprägung einer depressiven, somatoformen und angstbezogenen Symptomatik bei osteuropäischen, türkischen und Migranten aus der ehemaligen Sowjetunion in der Allgemeinbevölkerung miteinander vergleichen und untersuchen, ob es Unterschiede in der Bereitschaft gibt, für verschiedene Beschwerden einen Arzt aufzusuchen. Methode: 43 osteuropäische Migranten (beide Eltern in Polen, Rumänien, Slowakischer Republik, Tschechischer Republik oder Ungarn geboren), 49 Migranten aus der ehemaligen Sowjetunion (beide Eltern in Russland, Ukraine, Weißrussland oder Kasachstan geboren; Russlanddeutsche Personen fallen auch in diese Gruppe) und 42 Personen mit türkischem Migrationshintergrund wurden mit dem Patient-Health-Questionnaire auf depressive, somatoforme und angstbezogene Symptome untersucht und mit einem Fragebogen zu ihrer Bereitschaft befragt, für verschiedene Beschwerden einen Arzt aufzusuchen. Die Gruppen wurden mit Varianzanalysen unter Kontrolle möglicher konfundierender Variablen miteinander verglichen. Ergebnisse: Unter Kontrolle von Geschlecht, Alter, Partnerschaft und Erwerbstätigkeit zeigten sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede in depressiver, somatoformer und ängstlicher Symptomatik zwischen den drei Gruppen. Unter Kontrolle für Alter und Geschlecht zeigten sich ebenfalls keine Unterschiede in der Bereitschaft, für verschiedene Beschwerden einen Arzt aufzusuchen. Frauen berichteten mehr somatoforme Beschwerden als Männer und zeigten eine höhere Bereitschaft, einen Arzt zu konsultieren. Diskussion: Es lassen sich keine kulturellen Einflüsse in Bezug auf die psychische Gesundheit und den Umgang mit verschiedenen Beschwerden bei diesen eher gut integrierten Migranten feststellen. Weitere Studien zu dieser Fragestellung mit größeren Stichproben und unter Einbezug schlechter Deutsch sprechender Migranten wären wünschenswert.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Hahn ◽  
Ronald Burian ◽  
Annegret Dreher ◽  
Georg Schomerus ◽  
Michael Dettling ◽  
...  

Zusammenfassung. Studien in der Allgemeinbevölkerung zeigen uneinheitliche Ergebnisse bezüglich häufigerer Somatisierung bei Migranten. Vergleichende Untersuchungen fanden bei depressiven Patienten ostasiatischer Herkunft geringere Angaben von psychologischen Symptomen und häufigere somatische Beschwerden, als bei Patienten westlicher Herkunft. Aufgrund einer geringen Inanspruchnahme psychiatrischer Versorgungsangebote in Deutschland, insbesondere durch vietnamesische Migranten der ersten Generation, existieren bisher keine Studien zu einer psychischen und somatischen Symptomausprägung bei Patienten vietnamesischer Herkunft im Vergleich zu deutschen Patienten ohne Migrationshintergrund. Im Kontext kultursensibler Diagnostik von Migranten in Deutschland wurde als ausreichend messäquivalentes Selbstbeurteilungsinstrument insbesondere der Patient Health Questionnaire bzw. der Gesundheitsfragebogen für Patienten als ein valides und einfach verwendbares Instrument für eine Erfassung von Symptomen und Schweregraden häufiger psychischer Störungen, wie der Depression empfohlen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurden bei 66 vietnamesischen Patientinnen der ersten Generation und 83 deutschen Patientinnen während des erstmaligen psychiatrischen Kontaktes psychische Symptome einer Depression mittels des PHQ-9 und somatische Symptome mittels des PHQ-15 in der jeweiligen Muttersprache erfasst. Für beide Gruppen fand sich für beide Instrumente eine zufriedenstellende interne Konsistenz. Ein möglicher Zusammenhang zwischen der Herkunft und dem Schweregrad der Ausprägung psychischer depressiver und somatischer Symptome bei diagnostizierter depressiver Episode erfolgte mittels einer multivariaten Analyse. Für die Selbstbeurteilung mittels des PHQ-9 fanden sich keine Gruppenunterschiede hinsichtlich des Gesamtsummenwertes und des Schweregrades psychischer depressiver Symptome. Dagegen berichteten vietnamesische Patientinnen in der Selbstwahrnehmung anhand des PHQ-15 von einem insgesamt höheren Schweregrad von somatischen Symptomen. Insbesondere waren bei depressiven vietnamesischen Patientinnen die Mittelwerte der Einzelitems Kopfschmerzen, Glieder- und Gelenkschmerzen, Schmerzen im Brustbereich sowie Schwindel und Ohnmachtsanfälle gegenüber deutschen Patientinnen deutlich erhöht. Entgegen der Untersuchungshypothese und früherer Studien ging die häufigere Selbstbeurteilung oder Aufmerksamkeit auf somatische Symptome bei vietnamesischen Patientinnen nicht mit einer verminderten Eigenwahrnehmung von psychischen Symptomen einer depressiven Episode anhand des PHQ-9 einher.


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