Website intended for a NZ health professional readership
The perinatal period is the time in a woman’s life when she is most at risk of developing a mental illness. Awareness of the impact both pre- and postnatal illness can have on the infant and their future enhances the need to screen for and treat perinatal depression
1. Underwood L, Waldie KE, D’Souza S et al. A longitudinal study of pre-pregnancy and pregnancy risk factors associated with antenatal and postnatal symptoms of depression: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand. Maternal Child Health J 2017;21(4):915–31.
2. Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Eleventh annual report of the perinatal and maternal mortality review committee: Reporting mortality 2015. Wellington: Health Quality & Safety Commission, 2017.
3. Stein A, Pearson RM, Goodman SH et al. Effects of perinatal mental disorders on the fetus and child. Lancet 2014;384(9956):1800–19.
4. Schore AN. Effects of a secure attachment relationship on right brain development, affect regulation and infant mental health. Infant Mental Health J 2001;22:7–66.
5. Callender KA, Olson SL, Choe DE et al. The effects of parental depressive symptoms, appraisals, and physical punishment on later child externalizing behaviour. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2012;40(3):471–83.
6. Murray L, Fiori‐Cowley A, Hooper R et al. The impact of postnatal depression and associated adversity on early mother‐infant interactions and later infant outcome. Child Devel 1996;67(5):2512–26.
7. Forman DR, O'Hara MW, Stuart S et al. Effective treatment for postpartum depression is not sufficient to improve the developing mother–child relationship. Devel Psychopathol 2007;19(2):585–602.
8. Flach C, Leese M, Heron J et al. Antenatal domestic violence, maternal mental health and subsequent child behaviour: A cohort study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2011;118(11):1383–91.
9. Austin M-P, Highet N and the Expert Working Group. Mental health care in the perinatal period: Australian clinical practice guideline. Melbourne: Centre of Perinatal Excellence, 2017.
10. Evans J, Melotti R, Heron J et al. The timing of maternal depressive symptoms and child cognitive development: A longitudinal study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2012;53(6):632–40.
Pharmacist prescribers Linda Bryant and Leanne Te Karu discuss positive polypharmacy for heart failure. Current evidence shows the intensive implementation of four medications offers the greatest benefit to most patients with heart failure, with significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalisations and all-cause mortality
