Intervention to psychiatric problems to occur newly during the perinatal period: The role of psychiatrists

Abstract

Psychiatric problems such as puerperal psychosis, perinatal depression, and psychogenic conditions due to obstetric complications, infant admission, and perinatal loss, have been reported to occur during the perinatal period. Psychiatric problems that occur before pregnancy can be detected by the medical staff. It is useful to detect the risk factors of mental health problems during the perinatal period so as to identify women ‘at high risk’ and intervene preventively. A multidisciplinary approach is required for promoting perinatal mental health. The role of psychiatrists is to make appropriate diagnoses, administer prompt treatment, promote psychoeducation, encourage child rearing, be involved in multi-disciplinary team management, and render technical and emotional support to the staff.