Women very clearly identified that they wanted universal screening for mood disorders to be implemented as part of the standard of practice for maternity care. Screening for mood disorders is a simple and economical process that is well within the scope of our nursing practice allowing us to not only take ownership for its implementation but also to be leaders in advocating for this best practice standard to be availiable to all women. The design and delivery of mass screening programs for perinatal mood disorders will require the concerted effort of maternal-child nurses, pubic and community health nurses, and other nurses who work directly with this population.
The most significant limitation of the study findings is that they are not generalizable beyond the present participant sample. The mothers who participated within this study were all well-educated, White,mature (mean age=32.6), professional women with few financial or social limitations. Furter, all of the participant had p the artners who were able to provide at least minimal instrumental and emotional support. For new mothers without these financial, emotionl, and social benefits, the experience of a PPMD would undoubtedly be more profound and complex. As a result,