COUNSELING OF POSTNATAL DEPRESSION - A CONTROLLED-STUDY ON A POPULATION-BASED SWEDISH SAMPLE

In a two-stage screening procedure, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depr ession Scale (EPDS) at 8 and 12 weeks postpartum and the Montgomery-As berg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and DSM-III-R at about 13 weeks p ostpartum, 41 women identified as depressed were randomly allocated to a study and a control group. The women in the study group received 6 weekly, counselling visits by the Child Health Clinic nurse and the co ntrol group received routine primary care. Twelve (80%) of 15 women wi th major depression in the study group were fully recovered after the intervention compared to 4 (25%) of 16 in the control group. Counselli ng by health nurses is helpful in managing postnatal depression and se ems to work well within the Swedish Primary Health Care system.