After having a baby, some women develop a condition called postpartum depression, or PPD, which can cause sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with their newborn. Right now, most women aren't screened for PPD until about 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth, but this study wants to find out if checking earlier could help identify signs sooner. To test this, researchers will work with 428 women who deliver at an MGH hospital clinic and have no history of depression. Each woman will be randomly placed into one of two groups: one group will fill out a short depression questionnaire online at 2 to 3 weeks after delivery, while the other group will follow the usual process and complete the same questionnaire at their regular 6-week visit. The results will go to each woman's doctor, who will decide if any follow-up care is needed, just like they normally would. The study will follow each participant for 6 months after delivery to see whether earlier screening makes a difference.
Live birth, term (≥37 weeks) delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital
Access to Patient Gateway, as to receive the electronic EPDS scale
Primary obstetric provider at MGH or its affiliated clinics
No recent history of depressive disorder as determined through diagnoses or medication use*
A diagnosis code in the EHR for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder within the year prior to delivery
Antidepressant, antipsychotic, or bipolar medication use within the year prior to delivery
Age <18 years old