Improving perinatal depression care: the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project for Moms

Nancy Byatt; Kathleen Biebel; Tiffany A Moore Simas; Barry Sarvet; Marcy Ravech; Jeroan Allison; John Straus

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2016.03.002

Improving perinatal depression care: the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project for Moms

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2016 May-Jun:40:12-7. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2016.03.002. Epub 2016 Mar 21.

Authors

Nancy Byatt¹, Kathleen Biebel², Tiffany A Moore Simas², Barry Sarvet³, Marcy Ravech⁴, Jeroan Allison², John Straus⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA. Electronic address: nancy.byatt@umassmemorial.org.
² University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA.
³ Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, Beacon Health Options, 125 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
⁴ Tufts School of Medicine, 750 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01199, USA.

PMID: 27079616
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2016.03.002

Abstract

Objective: Perinatal depression is common and associated with poor birth, infant and child outcomes. Screening for perinatal depression alone does not improve treatment rates or patient outcomes. This paper describes the development, implementation and outcomes of a new and low-cost population-based program to help providers address perinatal depression, the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) for Moms.

Method: MCPAP for Moms builds providers' capacity to address perinatal depression through (1) trainings and toolkits on depression screening, assessment and treatment; (2) telephonic access to perinatal psychiatric consultation for providers serving pregnant and postpartum women; and (3) care coordination to link women with individual psychotherapy and support groups.

Results: In the first 18months, MCPAP for Moms enrolled 87 Ob/Gyn practices, conducted 100 trainings and served 1123 women. Of telephone consultations provided, 64% were with obstetric providers/midwives and 16% were with psychiatrists. MCPAP for Moms costs $8.38 per perinatal woman per year ($0.70 per month) or $600,000 for 71,618 deliveries annually in Massachusetts.

Conclusion: The volume of encounters, number of women served and low cost suggest that MCPAP for Moms is a feasible, acceptable and sustainable approach that can help frontline providers effectively identify and manage perinatal depression.

Keywords: Depression; Perinatal; Postpartum; Pregnancy; Treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
Depressive Disorder / therapy*
Female
Humans
Massachusetts
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis*
Pregnancy Complications / therapy*
Program Development*
Program Evaluation*
Quality Improvement*
Young Adult