Rates of maternal depression in pediatric emergency department and relationship to child service utilization

Flynn, Heather A; Davis, Matthew; Marcus, Sheila M; Cunningham, Rebecca; Blow, Frederic C

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2004.03.009

« Previous Next »General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 26, Issue 4 , Pages 316-322, July 2004

Rates of maternal depression in pediatric emergency department and relationship to child service utilization

Heather A Flynn, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Depression Center, University of Michigan Medical School, 2101 Commonwealth Boulevard, Suite B, Room 1003 Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-734-936-8702; fax: +1-734-764-4031
Matthew Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P.
- Divisions of General Pediatrics and General Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
Sheila M Marcus, M.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
Rebecca Cunningham, M.D.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
Frederic C Blow, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
- VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center, Health Services Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA

Received 26 September 2003; accepted 9 March 2004.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to (a) identify rates and correlates of untreated elevated depression in mothers of young children in a pediatric emergency department (ED) setting and (b) examine the association of depression and other key variables to child healthcare use. Mothers (n=176) bringing their child (<age 7) to the pediatric ED completed a screening survey assessing depression, demographic information, and select child healthcare information. Up to 31% of mothers screened evidenced elevated depression, and most were not being treated (78%). Elevated depression was related to both missed pediatric outpatient visits and greater use of pediatric ED services. Thus, the pediatric ED setting may provide the opportunity to identify mothers whose depressive symptoms have been obstacles to seeking routine primary care for their children. Detection of maternal depression in pediatric settings using a screening tool accompanied by appropriate follow through may be a reasonable strategy to improve health outcomes for both the mother and her child.

Keywords: Maternal depression, Depression screening, Child health outcomes