Addressing Maternal Depression: A Screening Project
Award Amount:
$265,817
Approval Date:
July 8, 2003
Start Date:
September 1, 2003
End Date:
May 31, 2005
Trustees of Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire 03755
Principal Investigator:
Ardis Olson, M.D.
Depression in mothers is associated with the occurrence of developmental problems in their young children, including impaired cognitive function, depression, and behavioral problems. Depression may also affect mothers' confidence and parenting skills. Addressing maternal depressive symptoms has been shown to improve behavioral outcomes for both mothers and children, and new guidelines emphasize that pediatricians should play a role in detecting depression. For this project, investigators will develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a model for screening and referral of mothers for depression in five primary pediatric practices. The feasibility and cost of implementation will also be assessed. If the evaluation demonstrates the model's value, project staff will prepare technical assistance materials for providers and health plans to facilitate replication.