Abstract Background: Insufficient attention to antepartum and postpartum psychiatric issues in India has increased the importance of perinatal mental health within consultation–liaison psychiatry (CLP) services. Aim: This study aimed to examine the profile of CLP services provided to antepartum and postpartum inpatients in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a tertiary care medical center. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective chart-based study, we included antepartum and postpartum inpatients (up to 4 weeks after delivery) who were referred for psychiatric evaluation between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. We assessed a range of obstetric, perinatal, and psychiatric variables. Results: A total of 46 perinatal inpatients who received psychiatric evaluations were included; 23.9% ( n = 11) were antepartum, and 76.1% ( n = 35) were postpartum. The overall referral rate was 1.44%. The mean age of patients was 24.91 years. For antenatal referrals, the mean gestational age was 18.88 weeks. Postpartum evaluations occurred, on average, 3.6 days after delivery. A previous adverse obstetric history was present in 30.4% ( n = 14) of the patients, and 21.7% ( n = 10) had a family history of psychiatric illness. The most frequent diagnoses were psychotic disorders (including postpartum psychosis and antenatal brief psychotic disorder) in 26.08% ( n = 12) of women, followed by major depressive disorder in 21.73% ( n = 10), and delirium in 17.39% ( n = 8). Current or past suicidality was noted in 26.08% ( n = 12) of patients. Conclusion: The low referral rate suggests that only cases with severe, disturbing, or dangerous symptoms that pose a risk to the mother or newborn are being referred. This underscores the absence of routine screening for common mental disorders in perinatal women.
Singh et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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