PIRI
JAN - JUNE 2012 NEWSLETTER
PARENT-INFANT RESEARCH INSTITUTE & INFANT CLINIC
Can Motivational Interviewing Improve HelpSeeking Among Women with PND? We are conducted an exciting new study in conjunction with Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Services in the Cities of Banyule and Whittlesea, to explore whether Motivational Interviewing, delivered by MCH Nurses during their routine appointments, can improve helpseeking when needed in the first year postpartum.
This is an important study because research shows that around 5070% of women with depressive symptoms during the perinatal period do not seek help. Further, around 30,000 women annually suffer from postnatal depression (PND). Given these figures, finding ways to engage women with PND in treatment deserves serious attention, and can have a major public health impact. This study includes forty MCH nurses – Half who are trained to deliver Motivational Interviewing and half who continue to provide current best practice routine care. In total, 800 women are being recruited.
Women are followed up until 12 months postpartum to evaluate the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in increasing uptake of services as needed and subsequently improving mood. To date, MCH nurses in Whittlesea and Banyule have been trained. Thank you for your involvement in the study. We hope you enjoyed the training! We are looking for one more MCH service (eight more nurses) to be involved. For more information, contact Charlene on (03) 9496 4496 or
[email protected] This project is being funded by Australian Rotary Health.
The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) is a vigorous & innovative Australian research institute focusing on understanding, developing and applying treatments to improve parent and infant well-being. PIRI believes that early intervention is the key to better outcomes for families. While PIRI has a strong research focus, it also comprises a clinical unit (Infant Clinic). The Infant Clinic is a Centre of Excellence and provides clinical services to assist with the difficulties experienced by parents & infants in the first years of life. T: 9496 4496
F: 9496 4148
www.piri.org.au
LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS Does postnatal depression screening work? Throwing out the bathwater, keeping the baby. Background Given that rates of help-seeking for postnatal depression (PND) are generally low, there is current interest in whether routine, universal screening has the potential to increase diagnosis and treatment rates. Methods We carefully reviewed the best available evidence on the properties of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to determine whether there is a valuable effect of screening that is worth maximising appropriately.
PIRI Training Calendar 2012 We are finalising our training calendar and more details will be available on our website shortly. For more information, visit www.piri.org.au or contact us: 9496 4496. FEBRUARY 16 & 23 Community HUGS Presented by: Jennie Ericksen & Elizabeth Loughlin MARCH Screening and Further Assessment of Perinatal Mental Health Presented by: Jennie Ericksen & Sofia Rallis
Results Some women with high EPDS scores will need no further intervention, but most with a high score will be found to be depressed or anxious. This makes screening a quick and useful tool for identifying women in need of help.
APRIL Getting Ahead of PND (18-19 April) & Mother Baby Interaction (20 April) Presented by: Jeannette Milgrom, Jo Du Buisson, Jennie Ericksen, Sofia Rallis
Conclusions Screening with the EPDS therefore appears worthwhile, with the potential to facilitate substantial increases in the number of depressed women identified.
MAY Choosing Music for Babies Presented by: Elizabeth Loughlin
An important practical consideration is the training in screening that health professionals receive. Training should focus on the clear purposes and limitations of a screening program and on accurately and helpfully communicating the meaning of a positive and negative screening result to women.* Reference Milgrom, J., Mendelsohn, J., & Gemmill, A.W. (2011). Does postnatal depression screening work? Throwing out the bathwater, keeping the baby. Journal of Affective Disorders, 132, 301-310. *Together with beyondblue, we developed a free online training program for screening women in the perinatal period. Visit: www.thinkgp.com.au/ beyondblue.
JUNE Screening and Further Assessment of Perinatal Mental Health Presented by: Jennie Ericksen & Sofia Rallis JULY Overcoming Depression Presented by: Jennie Ericksen AUGUST Premature Babies and their Parents Presented by: Carol Newnham SEPTEMBER Screening and Further Assessment of Perinatal Mental Health Presented by: Jennie Ericksen & Sofia Rallis OCTOBER Getting Ahead of PND & Mother Baby Interaction Presented by: Jeannette Milgrom, Jo Du Buisson, Jennie Ericksen, Sofia Rallis
Free Online Treatment for Postnatal Depression PIRI has developed the first internet-based cognitive-behavioural treatment for postnatal depression and is running a research trial to look at the feasibility of this new program The program is called MumMoodBooster and is based on some of our successful programs for antenatal and postnatal depression. The program was developed in collaboration with colleagues at the Oregon Research Institute and the University of Iowa in the United States. MumMoodBooster consists of six sequential interactive sessions available for access one per week, as well as additional information in the form of companion library articles that are available for access at any time. The program also includes web support forums, and women are phoned once per week by a psychologist phone coach. We are looking for women who meet the eligibility criteria below to participate in the study. Women do not need to attend the clinic as all aspects of the program are completed online or via telephone. Participants are asked to complete questionnaires and phone assessments at three time points over six months and will be reimbursed for their time ($40 for the first assessment and $30 each for the second and third assessments). We are happy to complete a telephone intake with women to determine their eligibility. TO REFER: Please contact us on (03) 9496 4496 or
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Eligibility Criteria • • • • •
over 18 years of age has a baby under 9 months of age able speak and read English has broadband internet access and uses email not currently receiving other treatment for depression (including medication) • has an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score between 12-20 inclusive • no suicidal thoughts or risk to infant • no evidence of substance abuse, bipolar disorder or psychotic depression
Treatment for Antenatal Depression
News & Events Introductory Infant Mental Health Training with Infants at High Risk Berry Street Take Two in partnership with Austin Health and the Royal Children’s Hospital are running a four day introductory workshop (starting 27 Feb) in Infant Mental Health. This workshop is for professionals working with high risk infants, focusing on ways to intervene to improve outcomes. Cost $550.
Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynaecology (ASPOG) Conference ASPOG is a multidisciplinary association devoted to furthering understanding of the psychosocial aspects of health, particularly in the field of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive medicine. ASPOG is holding a conference on 3-4 August at the Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne.
BEATING THE BLUES BEFORE BIRTH We are looking for pregnant women to participate in a study to evaluate a cognitivebehavioural treatment program for antenatal depression.
For more information, visit www.aspog.org.au.
The treatment is called ‘Beating the Blues before Birth’ and is an 8-session face-to face program with a psychologist designed to improve maternal mood during pregnancy.
The Raising Children Website
Australian Fatherhood Research Network
Half the women who participate in the study receive the 8session treatment program.
The Raising Children Website is an Australian parenting website created by a consortium of Australia's leading early childhood agencies, with the help of an extensive network including the Australian Government.
To read about some of the exciting work being done by the Family Action Centre of the University of Newcastle and Dr Richard Fletcher, visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ research-centre/fac/research/ fathers/afrn.html. The work focuses on fathers and has many links to resources.
For information and to register, visit www.berrystreet.org.au or call (03) 9429 9266.
The website covers a broad range of up-to-date topics for parenting newborns to teens. It includes reliable and scientifically validated information and resources to support parents in the day-to-day tasks of raising children.
All women who participate in the study are clinically assessed by a psychologist and linked in with appropriate services as needed. A psychologist will also keep in touch with all participants and monitor their mood by phone and/or questionnaires at four time points until 9-months postpartum. The program is free of charge to women who meet eligibility criteria.
PIRI has been contracted to develop a “Premmie corner”.
TO REFER: Please contact Charlene Schembri on (03) 9496 4496 or email
To view the website, visit http://raisingchildren.net.au
[email protected]
PIRI & Infant Clinic Team Prof Jeannette Milgrom Executive Director
Ms Jennie Ericksen Manager, Psychologist
Dr Carol Newnham Psychologist, Researcher
Dr Charlene Schembri Researcher
Ms Sofia Rallis Psychologist, Researcher
Dr Alan Gemmill Researcher
Mr Christopher Holt Researcher
Ms Elizabeth Loughlin Dance Therapist
Dr Jessica Ross Psychologist, Researcher
Dr Carmel Ferretti Researcher
Dr Jo du Buisson Psychologist
Dr Helen Skouteris Researcher (Honorary)
Ms Barbara Frazer Ms Elizabeth Groth Admin Assistant Admin Assistant Newsletter edited by Charlene Schembri Newsletter edited by Charlene Schembri
