General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 2 , Pages 83-90, March 2003

Addressing depression in obstetrics/gynecology practice☆

  • Sarah Hudson Scholle, DrPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-412-624-1703; fax: +1-412-624-2360.
    • ,
  • Roger F Haskett, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    • ,
  • Barbara H Hanusa, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Center for Research on Healthcare, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    • ,
  • Harold Alan Pincus, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh; RAND; and Director, RAND-University of Pittsburgh Health Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    • ,
  • David J Kupfer, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Abstract 

Efforts to improve the care of depression in primary care patients have largely ignored the potential of obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) practices. We describe feasibility studies of a depression screening and care management intervention in three diverse OB/GYN practices. Patients were screened using the Patient Health Questionnaire. A depression care manager offered education and referral assistance to women who screened positive for depression. The prevalence of depression was higher in the hospital clinic (20.2%, 47/233) than the suburban clinic (10.7%, 8/75) or the office practice (8.2%, 48/583). Seventy-two women participated in the care management intervention. Patient satisfaction with the intervention was high and at 1-month follow-up, 31.9% of patients had kept or scheduled a new mental health appointment. Depression interventions developed in primary care can be successfully adapted for use with patients in OB/GYN practices. Additional modifications, particularly efforts to improve coordination of care with both general medical and mental health providers, are needed.

Keywords:  Depression, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Primary care, Screening

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☆ This study was supported by the Staunton Farms Foundation (Scholle); the National Institute of Mental Health (MH30915, Kupfer); and the Federal Office on Women’s Health.

PII: S0163-8343(03)00006-9

doi:10.1016/S0163-8343(03)00006-9

General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 2 , Pages 83-90, March 2003

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