Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT: Peripartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and serious mental health disorder that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited effective and safe treatment options. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a non-invasive treatment for PPD, yet awareness among patients is low. This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health treatment, particularly rTMS, for PPD. We conducted 36 interviews with individuals who experienced depressive symptoms during the peripartum period and health providers, followed by a descriptive interpretive thematic analysis. Key risk factors identified include personal (i.e., age), clinical (i.e., traumatic birth), situational (i.e., COVID-19, homelessness), and social (i.e., discrimination, domest

SUBMITTER: Al-Shamali HF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12021197 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature