Study unearths confusion around detection and care of postnatal
depression
22 .02.08
More clarity is needed around which health professionals – GPs or
health visitors – are responsible for detecting and managing
postnatal depression in new mothers, according to research in this
month’s British Journal of General Practice (BJGP).
The study found that most GPs
assumed health visitors were responsible for identifying mothers
suffering from post natal depression, whereas health visitors,
citing recent changes to their systems of working, felt that GPs
were in a better position to recognise and treat the condition.
The qualitative study involved
interviews with 14 health visitors and 19 GPs from the Bristol,
Manchester and London areas. Participants were asked about
their role in making the diagnosis; how the label of ‘postnatal
depression’ can affect management of the condition; the importance
of an established relationship between health professional and
woman; and GP and health visitor perceptions of each other’s
roles.
Their findings revealed that while
GPs reported taking responsibility for the diagnosis of postnatal
depression, recent changes in the way health visitors work, i.e.
more ‘corporate working’, had caused confusion amongst GPs who were
traditionally used to health visitors keeping in touch with and
providing support to women. Many health visitors interviewed,
however, no longer felt the management of postnatal depression was
part of their work. Their reasons included their statutory
child protection issues, corporate working and new targets such as
reducing childhood obesity which had moved postnatal depression
down their list of priorities.
Dr Carolyn Chew-Graham, RCGP
Clinical Champion for Mental Health, led the study and said: “In
the UK, 8-15% of women suffer from postnatal depression with
long-term consequences for maternal mood and child
development. Current policy is redirecting the emphasis of
health visiting work away from the management of postnatal
depression. This paper highlights the need to reconsider
health service provision for women in the perinatal period.
It is necessary to be explicit about where the responsibility for
detection and diagnosis lies.”
Ends
Press contact: RCGP Press Office,
press@rcgp.org.uk 020 7344
3137/3136/3135/3129
Notes to editors
Chew-Graham C, Chamberlain E,
Turner K, Folkes L, Caulfield L, and Sharp D GPs’ and health
visitors’ views on the diagnosis and management of postnatal
depression: a qualitative study. British Journal of General
Practice 2008: 58:169-176
The BJGP is published monthly and
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The Royal College of General
Practitioners (RCGP) is the largest membership organisation in the
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over 34,000 members who are committed to improving patient care,
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discipline. www.rcgp.org.uk