Evaluation of a new Perinatal Mental Health Service in a University Maternity Hospital.

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Authors

Cooney, C
Kennedy, N
Doherty, A
Shipsey, M
Lindow, S W
Hinds, C

Issue Date

2023-05-26

Type

Journal Article

Language

en

Keywords

Infants , Ireland , maternal health , perinatal mental health , prescribing , service model , women

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Abstract

Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (SPMHS) are a new development in Ireland. This service evaluation examined the impact of the introduction of a SPMHS multidisciplinary team (MDT) on prescribing practices and treatment pathways in an Irish maternity hospital.
Clinical charts were reviewed to collect data on all referrals, diagnoses, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions delivered in a SPMHS over a 3-week period in 2019. The findings were compared to the same 3-week period in 2020 following the expansion of the SPMHS MDT.
In 2019 ( = 32) and 2020 ( = 47), most (75 and 79%, respectively) assessments were antenatal. The proportion of patients prescribed psychotropic medication within the SPMHS was not significantly different from 2019 (31%) to 2020 (23%), though more patients were already prescribed psychotropic medications at the time of referral (22% in 2019 36% in 2020). There was an increase in MDT interventions in 2020 with more input from psychology, clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and social work intervention. Adherence to prescribing standards improved from 2019 to 2020.
Prescribing patterns remained unchanged between 2019 and 2020. Improvement was observed in adherence to prescribing standards and there was increased provision of MDT interventions in 2020. Broader diagnostic categories were also used in 2020, possibly suggesting that the service is now providing more individualized care.

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Citation

Cooney, C., Kennedy, N., Doherty, A., Shipsey, M., Lindow, S. W., & Hinds, C. (2023). Evaluation of a new Perinatal Mental Health Service in a University Maternity Hospital. Irish journal of psychological medicine, 40(4), 588–591. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2023.18

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Journal

Irish journal of psychological medicine

Volume

40

Issue

4

PubMed ID

ISSN

2051-6967

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