GP Vivas · mental-health
Perinatal mental health — structured viva
Structured oral on perinatal mental health: the blues-PND-psychosis spectrum and urgency, EPDS screening, sertraline in breastfeeding, antidepressant discontinuation relapse in pregnancy, postpartum psychosis relapse prediction (Wesseloo), and CBT/IPT as first-line psychological therapy.
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Study tools
Target exams
RACGP CCEFRACGP oralsMRCGP SCA
Prompt
The examiner opens: 'A mother brings her six-week-old baby for a check — how do you screen for perinatal mental illness?' The viva branches through EPDS screening, the three-condition spectrum, pharmacotherapy in breastfeeding, relapse prediction, and psychological therapy evidence.
Stem
You are the GP registrar supervisor. Your trainee asks what to do about perinatal mental health at the six-week check. [1]
References5ShowHide
- [1]Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry, 1987.PMID 3651732
- [2]Pinheiro E, Bogen DL, Hoxha D, Ciolino JD, Wisner KL Sertraline and breastfeeding: review and meta-analysis. Arch Womens Ment Health, 2015.PMID 25589155
- [3]Wesseloo R, Kamperman AM, Munk-Olsen T, Pop VJ, Kushner SA, Bergink V Risk of Postpartum Relapse in Bipolar Disorder and Postpartum Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Psychiatry, 2016.PMID 26514657
- [4]Bayrampour H, Kapoor A, Bunka M, Ryan D The Risk of Relapse of Depression During Pregnancy After Discontinuation of Antidepressants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Psychiatry, 2020.PMID 32558401
- [5]Leng LL, Xiao W, He X, Wang T, Ning K Efficacy of psychological treatments for perinatal depression and anxiety: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry, 2026.PMID 42343881