Addressing the needs of pregnant and postpartum women: Psychiatric assessment and information sharing methods

Abstract

We examined psychiatric assessment and information sharing methods required of psychiatrists in providing multidisciplinary support to address the needs of pregnant and postpartum women. Pregnant and postpartum women have been experiencing anxiety and social isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For perinatal mental health care, online consultations and one-to-one in-person high-risk approaches are essential. The high-risk approach consists of comprehensive care provided by multidisciplinary professionals. Psychiatric assessment is necessary for optimizing the care and assessment of parental functioning. Moreover, psychiatrists should diagnose psychiatric disorders and assess the severity, the need for medication, the risk of relapse, and the effects of psychiatric symptoms and medication on parenting. In particular, the underlying pathology of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and thoughts of harming the baby should be shared among multidisciplinary professionals caring for pregnant and postpartum women. It is also important to predict the course of the psychiatric disorder during the perinatal period and prepare a crisis plan for when psychiatric symptoms worsen.