Underdetection of Psychiatric Disorders During Prenatal Care: A Survey of Adolescents in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Author(s)

Chalem, Elisa ^{[1, 2]} ; Mitsuhiro, Sandro S. ^[1] ; Manzolli, Patricia ^{[3, 4]} ; Barros, Marina C. M. ^[5] ; Guinsburg, Ruth ^[5] ; Sass, Nelson ^{[6, 7]} ; Laranjeira, Ronaldo ^[1] ; Ferri, Cleusa P. ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, BR-05086010 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Mario de Moraes Altenfelder, Sch Matern & Publ, Dept Psychol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Kings Coll London, Inst Psychiat Hlth Serv & Populat Res, London WC2R 2LS - England

^[4] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Sch Med, Grad Studies Program Epidemiol, BR-90046900 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Obstet, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Hosp Dr Mario Moraes Altenfelder, Sch Matern & Publ, Dept Obstet, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH; v. 50, n. 1, p. 93-96, JAN 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Purpose: This study estimates the prevalence of common mental disorders and the proportion and potential determinants of detection among adolescents attending prenatal care. Methods: We recruited 930 consecutive adolescents admitted for obstetric care, of which 457 participants had attended the hospital's prenatal care unit. Common mental disorders were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (version 2.1). A detailed review of prenatal care records was used to identify detection of psychiatric disorders by prenatal healthcare professionals. Results: A total of 103 adolescents (22.5%) had some mental disorder but only one-fifth of them had had their psychiatric disorder detected during prenatal care. The most frequent diagnosis using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (version 2.1) was depression (13.5% or 62), but only 21% had been detected. Alcohol and drug dependence were the least common mental disorders (2.4%), but they were the most commonly detected (45.5%). Physical chronic condition increased the likelihood of detecting psychiatric disorder. Conclusion: Mental health is not yet recognized as an integral component of practice in prenatal care. Given the potential effect of antenatal psychiatric morbidity on maternal and child outcomes, especially among adolescents, practice needs to be changed and prenatal care professionals trained in the recognition and basic treatment of common mental disorders. (C) 2012 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 00/10293-5 - Drug abuse among pregnant adolescents
• Grantee: Ronaldo Laranjeira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants