Month: September 2011

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Over 400,000 infants are born each year to mothers suffering from perinatal depression. The most undiagnosed obstetric complication in the U.S., perinatal depression typically affects mothers during pregnancy or within the first year following childbirth.

Types of Perinatal Depression

At least half of new mothers develop what is known as the “baby blues.” This type of perinatal depression involves crying, anxiety and mood swings and lasts no longer than a few days following childbirth.

Affecting between 13 to 20 percent of mothers, postpartum depression can have an impact on mothers that lasts well over one year. This type of depression affects a mother’s ability to properly care for her child as well as her capability to perform simple daily tasks. In addition to having thoughts of harming herself or her child, women affected with this depressive disorder might also feel inadequate, shameful and withdrawn from friends and family.

How Postpartum Affects the Child

A study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found infants residing in environments where depression was present are more likely to have impairments in their social interactions and cognitive development. If the mother’s depression remains untreated, it is less likely a strong relationship bond will develop between mother and child.

Treatment is Key

In order to reduce the impacts of postpartum on an infant, the mother must seek treatment. Methods of treatment commonly include counseling and medication. Within roughly four months of being diagnosed and treated, mothers will begin to recover from postpartum treatment.

Recognizing the Problem

Primary care providers should screen new mothers for postpartum depression and provide the appropriate resources if symptoms are found.

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Written by Paul E. Keck Jr., M.D.,  president and CEO of Lindner Center of HOPE and a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

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Abraham Lincoln, Virginia Woolf, Eugene O’Neill, Leo Tolstoy, Tennessee Williams, Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, Carrie Fisher, Mike Wallace, Patty Duke, Demi Lovato, Catherine Zeta-Jones – all talented and gifted individuals, each has made unique contributions to society, are heroes to many and all have touched our lives in one way or another.

Is it surprising that these individuals have experienced a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and/or personality disorder? It shouldn’t be. Mental illness affects one in four individuals, and five of the top 10 causes of disability worldwide are due to psychiatric illness. They strike men and women in almost equal proportions and affect people of all ages, ethnic groups and socioeconomic levels.

Although we have never had better evidence-based treatment and more achievable recovery for most psychiatric disorders, substantial stigma still exists and creates barriers for people needing and seeking treatment. Massive improvement is also needed in reimbursement for mental health care. Though these illnesses are as devastating for families as cancer and heart disease, society perpetuates disparities in support for individuals and families faced with mental illness.

Through research, great advancements in genetics, diagnosis and treatments have been made. In addition, we continue to increase awareness about the nature of suicide and the co-occurrence of mental illness and addiction.

Mental illness can be an uncomfortable topic, but when people share their stories, awareness grows and compassion is cultivated. We have an opportunity, in our community, to be leaders in improving access to high-quality mental health services, not only for humanitarian reasons, but based on economic imperatives.

Enhancing the health and well-being of our communities depends on a collective effort. No one organization, business or advocate can do it alone. I commend the nationally well-known individuals who share their stories of hope and also thank the everyday heroes in our communities who also face the effects of mental illness.

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In 1990, informal movements driven by consumers began in an effort to change the perceived problems in mental health services and to promote better communication between the provider and the patient.  A mental health “consumer” is considered a person who is undergoing treatment for a psychiatric disorder.   The term suggests that individuals have a choice in their treatment and that without them mental health providers would not exist.  Today, the word mental health consumer has expanded in the popular usage of consumers themselves to include anyone who has received mental health services in the past, anyone who has a behavioral health diagnosis, or simply anyone with a mental or behavioral disorder.

In some health care circles the movement to refer to patients as “consumers of healthcare” is being debated along with issues pertaining to “customer” service.  Some practitioners believe calling individuals “consumers” sends the message that we are “selling” them a product and that it’s an impersonal term.  And only a handful of residency programs incorporate customer service into their clinical training.  What are the implications to providers and patients?  In addition to clinical training, do we also need to learn customer service techniques?

Dr. Paul E. Keck, Jr.:

As defined by traditional terms, a patient is a person who is under medical care or treatment. And if we elaborate from a position of compassion and understanding we would add that this is someone suffering in some way and needs some form of help and HOPE. However, this should come in the form of a partnership, working together with patient and family to create improvements in quality of life, alleviate suffering and save lives.

When I think about what I do-what we do as providers of mental healthcare, I recognize that my position in this partnership is as a provider and my goal is to help patients achieve good health and lasting wellness. Do I consider them “consumers?” I think the better question here is, as a mental healthcare provider how am I delivering care? What is my customer’s perception and how is my expertise and clinical knowledge helping them achieve their goals? It’s critical to ask what patients are trying to achieve. What they are willing to contribute to achieve their goals and what can I do to support them as they work toward that outcome?

Customer service is one of the most important functions of the health care industry. We are witnessing an ever-changing healthcare environment, one in which the “customer” is better educated about their health and one in which they recognize they have many choices. Incorporating compassion, responsiveness and attention into the patient experience can set one apart from the many options available. The Journal of Healthcare Management reports that patients who receive good customer service report better health outcomes and higher levels of satisfaction with their overall healthcare.  I believe as we continue to meet the heavy demands and ever increasing needs of those seeking mental health services, we need to remember to deliver a customer service experience in line with one we would hope to receive as we visit our own healthcare provider.