Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health: Clinical Management and Service Guidance

Excerpt

The guideline makes recommendations for the use of pharmacological, psychological and service-level interventions. It aims to:

1. evaluate the role of specific pharmacological agents in the treatment and management mental health problems in pregnancy and the postnatal period

2. evaluate the role of specific psychological interventions in the treatment and management of mental health problems in pregnancy and the postnatal period

3. evaluate the role of specific service-delivery systems and service-level interventions in the management of mental health problems in pregnancy and the postnatal period

4. to provide best-practice advice on the care of women with a mental health problem in pregnancy or the postnatal period through the different phases of illness, including the initiation of treatment, the treatment of acute episodes and the promotion of recovery

5. consider economic aspects of various standard treatments of mental health problems in pregnancy and the postnatal period

6. promote the implementation of best clinical practice through the development of recommendations tailored to the requirements of the NHS in England and Wales.