Dataset Information

Trends in postpartum mental health care before and during COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the impact of COVID-19 on trends in postpartum mental health diagnoses and utilization of psychotherapy and prescription drug treatment.

Data sources

Data were obtained from a large, national health insurance claims database that tracks individuals longitudinally.

Study design

We used interrupted time series models to examine changes in trends of postpartum mental health diagnoses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and t-tests to examine differences in treatment.

Data extraction methods

We used billing codes to identify individuals who received mental health-related diagnoses and treatment in the first 90 days after a birth hospitalization. We excluded individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and those with an unknown payer at delivery.

Principal findings

Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the trend in new postpartum mental health diagnoses increased significantly in the post-COVID-19 period (0.06 percentage points [95%CI 0.01, 0.11]). Over 12 months, the percentage of new diagnoses was 5.0% greater relative to what would be expected in absence of COVID-19. The percentage of diagnosed individuals who did not receive treatment increased from 50.4% to 52.7% (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Findings point to an urgent need to improve screening and treatment pathways for perinatal individuals in the wake of COVID-19.

SUBMITTER: Rokicki S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9539265 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Trends in postpartum mental health care before and during COVID-19.

Rokicki Slawa S Steenland Maria W MW Geiger Caroline K CK Gourevitch Rebecca A RA Chen Lucy L Martin Michelle W MW Cohen Jessica L JL

Health services research 20220904 6

<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the impact of COVID-19 on trends in postpartum mental health diagnoses and utilization of psychotherapy and prescription drug treatment.<h4>Data sources</h4>Data were obtained from a large, national health insurance claims database that tracks individuals longitudinally.<h4>Study design</h4>We used interrupted time series models to examine changes in trends of postpartum mental health diagnoses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and t-tests to examine differences ...[more]

PMID: 36059179

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Dataset Information

Trends in postpartum mental health care before and during COVID-19.

Objective

Data sources

Study design

Data extraction methods

Principal findings

Conclusions

Publications

Trends in postpartum mental health care before and during COVID-19.

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