Autistic women and community perinatal mental health services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Aut-CoPS: Autistic women's experiences of community perinatal mental health services
IRAS ID
337915
Contact name
Heather O'Mahen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
For many women, the perinatal period (pregnancy, giving birth and the year afterwards) can be challenging. Up to a fifth of women will experience a perinatal mental health problem which may include depression, anxiety, OCD, postpartum psychosis and other conditions. Up to 10% of these women are also autistic. Autistic women face extra difficulties during this period due to their sensory differences, communication challenges and the lack of predictability and routine.
Community perinatal mental health teams (CPMHT) are an important part of support for women experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems during pregnancy and the following year. Autistic women experiencing perinatal mental health problems are likely to be referred to these teams for support. CPMHT are a relatively new service in the UK following extra funding since 2018. Some research has looked at the overall effectiveness and cost effectiveness of CPMHT but no research has examined the experiences of autistic women in CPMHT. This is important because autistic people are over-represented in mental health services and autism is a research priority for NHSE.
This research aims to use qualitative methodology to explore the particular needs of autistic women accessing CPMHT. Interviews will be carried out with autistic women who have accessed CPMHT, their partners or supporters and staff working in CPMHT. This aims to produce high quality evidence around their experiences and form the basis for making recommendations to the NHS.
Some interviews have already been carried out under 19/SW/0218 and this study will analyse these interviews alongside the data collected in this study.REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
24/WS/0064
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion