Exploring the Extent of Perinatal Depression Screening in the Health Records of Veterans

To investigate adherence by Veterans Affairs (VA) providers to perinatal depression screening clinical practice guidelines (two prenatal and one postpartum screen). Women Veterans who enrolled in a multisite cohort study during pregnancy and delivered newborns between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 were included. VA electronic health record (EHR) and claims data identified the start of pregnancy care, depression screens, and medical history. Prenatal and postpartum telephone surveys collected demographics, pregnancy characteristics, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores. Data from EHRs was combined with telephone survey data to create the analytic dataset (n = 663). Most (93%) Veterans had primary care at the VA during pregnancy; 41% saw a VA mental health provider. Perinatal depression screens were conducted with 43% of Veterans; 13% had both prenatal and postnatal screens. Screened Veterans were less likely to be diagnosed with depression by a VA provider in either the preconception or pregnancy time periods compared to those not screened (11% vs. 24% and 14% vs 23%, respectively). Among unscreened women, 18% scored positive for depression prenatally and 9% postnatally on the EPDS. Less than half of our sample had evidence of depression screening during the perinatal period, despite contact with VA providers. Perinatal Veterans sustaining VA mental health care may account for fewer screens. Lack of screening may hinder connection to VA mental health treatment and referral resources for symptomatic women. VA should ensure Veterans receive perinatal depression screening to mediate the risks of depression on Veterans and their children.