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Evaluation of a new Perinatal Mental Health Service in a University Maternity Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2023

C. Cooney ,
N. Kennedy ,
A. Doherty Open the ORCID record for A. Doherty [Opens in a new window] ,
M. Shipsey ,
S. W. Lindow  and
C. Hinds
C. Cooney*
Affiliation:
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service, Cork St, Dolphin’s Barn, Dublin 8, Ireland
N. Kennedy
Affiliation:
St. Patrick’s University Hospital, St James’ St, Dublin 8, Ireland
A. Doherty
Affiliation:
Coombe Women and Infant’s University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
M. Shipsey
Affiliation:
Coombe Women and Infant’s University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
S. W. Lindow
Affiliation:
Coombe Women and Infant’s University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
C. Hinds
Affiliation:
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service, Cork St, Dolphin’s Barn, Dublin 8, Ireland
*
Corresponding author: Caoimhe Cooney; Email: [email protected], [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives:

Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (SPMHS) are a new development in Ireland. This service evaluation examined the impact of the introduction of a SPMHS multidisciplinary team (MDT) on prescribing practices and treatment pathways in an Irish maternity hospital.

Methods:

Clinical charts were reviewed to collect data on all referrals, diagnoses, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions delivered in a SPMHS over a 3-week period in 2019. The findings were compared to the same 3-week period in 2020 following the expansion of the SPMHS MDT.

Results:

In 2019 (n = 32) and 2020 (n = 47), most (75 and 79%, respectively) assessments were antenatal. The proportion of patients prescribed psychotropic medication within the SPMHS was not significantly different from 2019 (31%) to 2020 (23%), though more patients were already prescribed psychotropic medications at the time of referral (22% in 2019 v. 36% in 2020). There was an increase in MDT interventions in 2020 with more input from psychology, clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and social work intervention. Adherence to prescribing standards improved from 2019 to 2020.

Conclusion:

Prescribing patterns remained unchanged between 2019 and 2020. Improvement was observed in adherence to prescribing standards and there was increased provision of MDT interventions in 2020. Broader diagnostic categories were also used in 2020, possibly suggesting that the service is now providing more individualized care.

Keywords

InfantsIrelandmaternal healthperinatal mental healthprescribingservice modelwomen
Type
Short Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 4: Themed issue on Perinatal Mental Health , December 2023 , pp. 588 - 591
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

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