Abstract
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the most common perinatal complications. As awareness of PMADs grows, questions have arisen regarding the therapeutic value of screening alone. This study investigated whether universal screening for maternal depression and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Survey (EPDS) scores correlated with birth weight between a pre-implementation control cohort and a post-implementation study cohort. This study also investigated whether preterm birth rates varied between the two cohorts. The two cohorts received prenatal care from the same obstetric practices and delivered at the same large, urban hospital. Beginning in 9/2019 an EPDS was universally administered three times to the study cohort. This occurred at the first prenatal visit, once during the third trimester, and at the hospital postpartum. Gestational age at delivery (GA), birth weight and EDPS scores were compared to a control cohort who did not receive universal screening as pregnancies were prior to 9/2019. T-tests were used to assess continuous data and Pearson correlations were used to assess screening data and pregnancy outcomes. 3884 pregnancies prior to implementation of universal screening were compared with 3885 pregnancies after implementation. GA and birth weight were similar between the two groups. Preterm birth rate was 12% in control cohort versus 12.35 % in the study cohort. Negative correlations were seen between EPDS scores postpartum and GA at delivery (r= -0.12, p < 0.0001) as well as between EDPS scores and birth weight (r= -0.08, p < 0.0001). EPDS was significantly correlated to age and parity. Higher EPDS score postpartum is associated with earlier GA at delivery and lower birth weight. As universal screening for PMADs expands, we should regard PMADs with the same attention as other “high-risk” pregnancy complications to improve perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth and birth weight.
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