%0 Journal Article %J Women Health %D 2013 %T Views and experiences of suicidal ideation during pregnancy and the postpartum: findings from interviews with maternal care clinic patients. %A Tabb, Karen M %A Gavin, Amelia R %A Guo, Yuqing %A Huang, Hsiang %A Debiec, Kate %A Katon, Wayne %K Adult %K Depression %K Depression, Postpartum %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Maternal Health Services %K Mothers %K Postpartum Period %K Pregnancy %K Pregnancy Complications %K Risk Factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Suicidal Ideation %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K Young Adult %X

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal suicidality (i.e., thoughts of death, suicide attempts, or self-harm during the period immediately before and up to 12 months after the birth of a child) is a significant public health concern. Few investigations have examined the patients' own views and experiences of maternal suicidal ideation.

METHODS: Between April and October 2010, researchers identified 14 patient participants at a single university-based medical center for a follow-up, semi-structured interview if they screened positive for suicidal ideation on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) short form. In-depth interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide. Researchers transcribed all interviews verbatim and analyzed transcripts using thematic network analysis.

RESULTS: Participants described the experience of suicidality during pregnancy as related to somatic symptoms, past diagnoses, infanticide, family psychiatric history (e.g., completed suicides and family member attempts), and pregnancy complications. The network of themes included the perinatal experience, patient descriptions of changes in mood symptoms, illustrations of situational coping, and reported mental health service use.

IMPLICATIONS: The interview themes suggested that in this small sample, pregnancy represented a critical time period to screen for suicide and to establish treatment for the mothers in the study. These findings may assist health care professionals in the development of interventions designed to identify, assess, and prevent suicidality among perinatal women.

%B Women Health %V 53 %P 519-35 %8 2013 %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1080/03630242.2013.804024 %0 Journal Article %J Arch Womens Ment Health %D 2011 %T Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation during pregnancy. %A Gavin, Amelia R %A Tabb, Karen M %A Melville, Jennifer L %A Guo, Yuqing %A Katon, Wayne %K Adult %K Attitude to Health %K Comorbidity %K Confidence Intervals %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Depression %K Ethnic Groups %K Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Odds Ratio %K Pregnancy %K Pregnancy Complications %K Prenatal Care %K Prevalence %K Quality of Life %K Risk Factors %K Suicidal Ideation %K United States %K Young Adult %X

Data are scarce regarding the prevalence and risk factors for antenatal suicidal ideation because systematic screening for suicidal ideation during pregnancy is rare. This study reports the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation during pregnancy. We performed cross-sectional analysis of data from an ongoing registry. Study participants were 2,159 women receiving prenatal care at a university obstetric clinic from January 2004 through March 2010. Multiple logistic regression identified factors associated with antenatal suicidal ideation as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire. Overall, 2.7% of the sample reported antenatal suicidal ideation. Over 50% of women who reported antenatal suicidal ideation also reported major depression. In the fully adjusted model antenatal major depression (OR = 11.50; 95% CI 5.40, 24.48) and antenatal psychosocial stress (OR = 3.19; 95% CI 1.44, 7.05) were positively associated with an increased risk of antenatal suicidal ideation. We found that being non-Hispanic White was associated with a decreased risk of antenatal suicidal ideation (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.26-0.99). The prevalence of antenatal suicidal ideation in the present study was similar to rates reported in nationally representative non-pregnant samples. In other words, pregnancy is not a protective factor against suicidal ideation. Given the high comorbidity of antenatal suicidal ideation with major depression, efforts should be made to identify those women at risk for antenatal suicidal ideation through universal screening.

%B Arch Womens Ment Health %V 14 %P 239-46 %8 2011 Jun %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1007/s00737-011-0207-5