Introducing Mother Baby Connections: a model of intensive perinatal mental health outpatient programming

Maternal Functioning and Depression Scores Improve Significantly With Participation in Visiting Moms® Program

“…Previous studies have included various subgroups of women, including populations who screened positive for depression (Barkin et al, 2016; Barkin, Wisner, Bromberger, Beach, Terry, et al, 2010; Barkin, Wisner, & Wisniewski, 2014) and general, low-risk ob/gyn populations (Aydın & Kukulu, 2018; Barkin, McKeever, et al, 2017; Heberlein, Frongillo, Picklesimer, & Covington-Kolb, 2016; Heberlein, Picklesimer, et al, 2016), but the vast majority of those women were evaluated for functioning only once, and early on in pregnancy (Figure 1). Geller, Posmontier, Horowitz, Bonacquisti, and Chiarello (2018) have reported the changes in BIMF scores from baseline to discharge from the Mother Baby Connections program; Mother Baby Connections is “an innovative interdisciplinary, attachment-focused program recently launched at Drexel University.” However, changes in functioning in response to an intervention—or absence of an intervention—have not been examined in the context of a nonclinical program. This study is also novel in that results from a free, community-based program, accessible to all women in the area, are reported.…”

The Importance of Patient-Centered Research in the Promotion of Postpartum Mental Health

“…When patients are actively involved in medical decision-making, this has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with depression ( 36 ) whereas the assignment of an unacceptable depression treatment has been shown to lead to negative outcomes like poor treatment alliance and high rates of attrition ( 37 ). Several other non-pharmacological interventions for peripartum distress that centered the patient by taking an individualized approach and making efforts to lower barriers to support have also demonstrated a positive impact on mental health outcomes ( 38 , 39 ).…”

A Stepped Care Model of Patient Navigation to Enhance Engagement with Perinatal Mental Health Care

“…Despite this, a recently published description of MBC highlights the positive patient outcomes regarding both mental health symptoms and patient satisfaction for the MBC program overall. 16 However, outcomes cannot be attributed to PN services specifically. Thus, program evaluation research is necessary to assess the specific gains and aspects of patient satisfaction that can be attributed to PN services.…”

“…Unlike case management, PN is delivered by a layperson or unlicensed worker focused on eliminating barriers, not providing clinical care. 14,15 Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a PN service at Mother Baby Connections (MBC), an intensive outpatient program for women with PMADs at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. 16 This study describes the role of patient navigator at MBC and introduces a stepped care model of PN services for perinatal mental health care that matches the intensity of PN to patients' needs based on PMADs symptom severity, health literacy, social support, and socioeconomic resources. Our experience in utilizing a patient navigator for women seeking treatment for PMADs may guide other programs in adopting this kind of service.…”