Perinatal mental health conditions
The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) are keen to understand better the awareness of the recently published guideline on perinatal mental health conditions, and how it is being implemented across different sectors.
To support the awareness of published guidelines we are seeking feedback from people in the target audience of the guideline.
The feedback form is available here
The guideline covers screening and treatment for women or birthing parents who are at risk of, or experiencing, a mental health condition during pregnancy or within the year following childbirth. The conditions covered include:
- anxiety disorders - including generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychological birth trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
- mood disorders - including depression and bipolar affective disorder
- postpartum psychosis and management of psychosis
- borderline personality disorder
Who this guideline is for
The guideline will be of interest to those working with pregnant and postnatal women and birthing parents across primary care, secondary care, social care and the third sector.
Recommendations
The guideline provides recommendations on:
- screening tools
- care planning
- psychosocial and psychological therapies
- efficacy and safety advice on the use of pharmaceutical therapies.
Supporting material
How this guideline was developed
This guideline is based on recommendations from the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE): Mental Health Care in the Perinatal Period: Australian Clinical Practice guideline, 2023. Details of the methodology used are in section 9 of the guideline.
Keeping up to date
This guideline was published in 2023 and will be considered for review in three years.
