Antenatal and postnatal mental health
Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance
Summary
The advice in the NICE clinical guideline on mental health problems during pregnancy and after giving birth covers: recognising mental health problems during pregnancy and in the first year after giving birth the care and treatment (including drugs and psychological treatments) of women who de ...
April 2007: Since publication, the recommendation on screening questions for depression has been corrected (this is recommendation 1.2.1.3 in the NICE guideline), and the guideline has been reissued. This recommendation now reads:
At a woman’s first contact with primary care, at her booking visit and postnatally (usually at 4 to 6 weeks and 3 to 4 months), healthcare professionals (including midwives, obstetricians, health visitors and GPs) should ask two questions to identify possible depression.
- During the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless?
- During the past month, have you often been bothered by having little interest or pleasure in doing things?
A third question should be considered if the woman answers ‘yes’ to either of the initial questions.
- Is this something you feel you need or want help with?
The electronic versions of the guideline on this website all contain the correct recommendation on screening. Hard copies of the corrected quick reference guide are being mailed to the NHS.
Guidance documents
Implementing this guidance
Expected review date: February 2012
About this guidance
Clinical guidelines CG45
Issued: February 2007