Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental
health conditions encountered by women of reproductive age. When left untreated,
perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have profound adverse effects on women
and their children, ranging from increased risk of poor adherence to medical
care, exacerbation of medical conditions, loss of interpersonal and financial
resources, smoking and substance use, suicide, and infanticide. Perinatal mood
and anxiety disorders are associated with increased risks of maternal and infant
mortality and morbidity and are recognized as a significant patient safety
issue. In 2015, the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care
convened an interdisciplinary workgroup to develop an evidence-based patient
safety bundle to address maternal mental health. The focus of this bundle is
perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The bundle is modeled after other bundles
released by the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care and
provides broad direction for incorporating perinatal mood and anxiety disorder
screening, intervention, referral, and follow-up into maternity care practice
across health care settings. This commentary provides information to assist with
bundle implementation.
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