TY - JOUR
AU - A. N. Goulding
AU - T. L. Fletcher
AU - E. S. Miller
A1 - 
AB - Perinatal mental health conditions are common and, without effective treatment, can contribute to adverse maternal and child outcomes. In the United States, mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, contributing to over 20% of pregnancy-related deaths. This expert review aims to assess current literature and provide recommendations regarding mental health care in high-risk patients who experience pregnancy complications. Individuals experiencing pregnancy complications are at increased risk for perinatal mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as compared to those with uncomplicated pregnancies. Despite this increased disease burden, there is limited research on how to support mental health in those experiencing pregnancy complications, a unique population with unmet needs. In this review, we propose multiple ways for obstetric clinicians to enhance their capacity to provide mental health care for high-risk patients facing pregnancy complications, including adapting preventative interventions, improving perinatal mental health education during medical training, expanding perinatal mental health screening, and implementing collaborative care models to expand reach of mental health services during pregnancy and postpartum. Mental health is an essential component of maternal health, and it must be addressed in a systematic, evidence-based manner in order to optimize maternal care and improve outcomes for all patients, especially those high-risk patients experiencing pregnancy complications.
AD - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, ThX (Goulding); VA HSR&D Houston Center of Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX (Goulding and Fletcher). Electronic address: alison.goulding@bcm.edu.; VA HSR&D Houston Center of Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX (Goulding and Fletcher); Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (Fletcher); VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Houston, TX (Fletcher).; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI (Miller).
AN - 42219111
BT - Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 8
DA - 08/2026
DO - 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2026.102006
DP - NLM
ET - 20260531
IS - 8
JF - Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM
LA - eng
N2 - Perinatal mental health conditions are common and, without effective treatment, can contribute to adverse maternal and child outcomes. In the United States, mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, contributing to over 20% of pregnancy-related deaths. This expert review aims to assess current literature and provide recommendations regarding mental health care in high-risk patients who experience pregnancy complications. Individuals experiencing pregnancy complications are at increased risk for perinatal mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as compared to those with uncomplicated pregnancies. Despite this increased disease burden, there is limited research on how to support mental health in those experiencing pregnancy complications, a unique population with unmet needs. In this review, we propose multiple ways for obstetric clinicians to enhance their capacity to provide mental health care for high-risk patients facing pregnancy complications, including adapting preventative interventions, improving perinatal mental health education during medical training, expanding perinatal mental health screening, and implementing collaborative care models to expand reach of mental health services during pregnancy and postpartum. Mental health is an essential component of maternal health, and it must be addressed in a systematic, evidence-based manner in order to optimize maternal care and improve outcomes for all patients, especially those high-risk patients experiencing pregnancy complications.
PY - 2026
SN - 2589-9333
SP - 102006
ST - Perinatal mental health screening and care among those with pregnancy complications
T1 - Perinatal mental health screening and care among those with pregnancy complications
T2 - Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM
TI - Perinatal mental health screening and care among those with pregnancy complications
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2026.102006
VL - 8
VO - 2589-9333
Y1 - 2026
ER -