Research network develops guidelines for the prevention, screening and treatment of peripartum depression

^{Abridged translation: Diana Taborda}

The new guidelines for clinical practice on the prevention, screening and treatment of depression in the perinatal period (the time span between pregnancy and the first year after delivery) comprise 44 recommendations designed to guide and support shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and patients, so that they can determine together the most appropriate care and treatment.

The COST Action "Research Innovation and Sustainable Pan-European Network in Peripartum Depression Disorder "(Riseup-PPD), is a network led by the University of Coimbra (UC) in the framework of COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), a programme that supports research and innovation networks that promote research collaboration in Europe.

The network involves researchers and experts from 31 countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

“In order to prevent perinatal depression (PPD) and ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it is essential to have evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice regarding prevention, screening and treatment,” explains the coordinator of RIseupp-PPD, Ana Ganho Ávila, researcher at the Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention (CINEICC) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra (FPCEUC).

According to the researcher, “many European countries do not have clinical practice guidelines for perinatal depression; and in those countries where guidelines do exist, their low methodological quality and inconsistencies may lead to disparities and inequalities in the clinical treatment of perinatal depression". Ávila further adds that pregnancy and the first year after delivery (the so-called perinatal period) are "times of huge psychological, physiological and social change in women's lives, and an estimated one in five women experience mental health problems during this period, with depression and anxiety being the most common problems”.

These clinical practice guidelines can be adopted by any health service in the 31 countries participating in the Riseup-PPD network.
On the 7th of November, Riseup-PPD members will present the 44 recommendations for prevention, screening and treatment of perinatal depression at the European Parliament. Ana Ganho Ávila says: "We hope that this meeting will encourage discussion about mental health in the perinatal period and bring this very important issue onto the national and international political agenda across Europe," she adds.

The Evidence-Based Guidelines for Prevention, Screening and Treatment of Peripartum Depression are available at www.riseupppd18138.com/