Screening for mental health issues in pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of using a modified English version of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS-ME) in pregnancy in the UK.
IRAS ID
161992
Contact name
Stacie Davies
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 24 days
Research summary
Pregnancy is usually considered a time of happiness and to be a life affirming experience for women and their families. However, for some women childbearing can have devastating effects upon their mental health and is a major factor for poor mother and baby outcomes. The point of a mental health screening tool is to become aware of women that are at high risk of having a mental health problem and therefore alerting her midwife or doctor to refer on for specialist assessment and reducing the risk of negative outcomes. Currently women are asked two questions known as the Whooley questions that screen for depression only but pregnant women experience other types of psychological and social distress. The institute that make clinical practice recommendations (NICE) are currently drafting new guidance on antenatal and postnatal mental health and are considering also using a scale to assess for anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Scale- 2 item). This study proposes an alternative scale known as the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS) developed in the Netherlands with direct input from pregnant women, new mothers and professionals. This scale explores the negative emotions specifically related to the pregnancy and birth, and explores women’s perception of partner involvement.
The aim of this study is to assess whether a modified English version of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS-ME) is feasible and acceptable to pregnant women and health professionals for its potential to use here in the UK. To answer this a questionnaire will be used to ask women attending their 20 week scan and also health professionals. Hospital records would then be used to identify which women required referral for specialist help and which scale best identified this need.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0008
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion