Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.

Peripartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and serious mental health disorder that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited effective and safe treatment options. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a non-invasive treatment for PPD, yet awareness among pa...

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Main Authors: Huda F Al-Shamali, Rachael Dong, Margot Jackson, Lisa Burback, Gina Wong, Bo Cao, Xin-Min Li, Andrew J Greenshaw, Yanbo Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321813
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author Huda F Al-Shamali
Rachael Dong
Margot Jackson
Lisa Burback
Gina Wong
Bo Cao
Xin-Min Li
Andrew J Greenshaw
Yanbo Zhang
author_facet Huda F Al-Shamali
Rachael Dong
Margot Jackson
Lisa Burback
Gina Wong
Bo Cao
Xin-Min Li
Andrew J Greenshaw
Yanbo Zhang
author_sort Huda F Al-Shamali
collection DOAJ
description Peripartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and serious mental health disorder that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited effective and safe treatment options. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a non-invasive treatment for PPD, yet awareness among patients is low. This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health treatment, particularly rTMS, for PPD. We conducted 36 interviews with individuals who experienced depressive symptoms during the peripartum period and health providers, followed by a descriptive interpretive thematic analysis. Key risk factors identified include personal (i.e., age), clinical (i.e., traumatic birth), situational (i.e., COVID-19, homelessness), and social (i.e., discrimination, domestic abuse). Five themes emerged regarding barriers and facilitators: 1) the need for mom-centered care, 2) systemic challenges, 3) the importance of mental health education, 4) stigma and custody concerns, and 5) challenges in accessing care. Eighty-three percent of participants were unaware of rTMS, but following a brief description, 75% were willing to receive or refer to rTMS if it was available to them. Addressing systemic and access-related concerns is crucial to ensuring patients with PPD have access to safe, effective, and accessible treatments.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-9e5d2914914a41b6b951241ae02b02f12025-08-20T02:19:37ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01204e032181310.1371/journal.pone.0321813Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.Huda F Al-ShamaliRachael DongMargot JacksonLisa BurbackGina WongBo CaoXin-Min LiAndrew J GreenshawYanbo ZhangPeripartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and serious mental health disorder that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited effective and safe treatment options. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a non-invasive treatment for PPD, yet awareness among patients is low. This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health treatment, particularly rTMS, for PPD. We conducted 36 interviews with individuals who experienced depressive symptoms during the peripartum period and health providers, followed by a descriptive interpretive thematic analysis. Key risk factors identified include personal (i.e., age), clinical (i.e., traumatic birth), situational (i.e., COVID-19, homelessness), and social (i.e., discrimination, domestic abuse). Five themes emerged regarding barriers and facilitators: 1) the need for mom-centered care, 2) systemic challenges, 3) the importance of mental health education, 4) stigma and custody concerns, and 5) challenges in accessing care. Eighty-three percent of participants were unaware of rTMS, but following a brief description, 75% were willing to receive or refer to rTMS if it was available to them. Addressing systemic and access-related concerns is crucial to ensuring patients with PPD have access to safe, effective, and accessible treatments.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321813
spellingShingle Huda F Al-Shamali
Rachael Dong
Margot Jackson
Lisa Burback
Gina Wong
Bo Cao
Xin-Min Li
Andrew J Greenshaw
Yanbo Zhang
Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.
PLoS ONE
title Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.
title_full Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.
title_fullStr Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.
title_full_unstemmed Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.
title_short Suffering in silence: Accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for peripartum depression - A qualitative study.
title_sort suffering in silence accessing mental health care and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rtms for peripartum depression a qualitative study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321813
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