Improving Anxiety and Depression in Pregnant Mothers Participating in Nurse Home Visitation

Abstract

The perinatal period is a time of significant adjustment for mothers, which may lead to alterations in mood that affect maternal mental health, which may also impact child development. The current article details the effectiveness of the addition of a psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and mental health training for nurses on the anxiety and depression screening scores of mothers enrolled in a home visitation program. For clients with elevated anxiety and depression scores, the percentages of those who were referred to and received mental health services increased after the program's addition of the PMHNP and mental health training. Implications for future research and practice include continued focus on maternal mental health with improved access to assessment and treatment for all clients within home visitation. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx (x), xx–xx.]