Perinatal mental health disorders linked to adverse maternal outcomes

People with mental health disorders had $458 higher costs per delivery hospitalization and 50% higher rates of severe maternal morbidity compared with people without mental health disorders, according to a study published this month in Health Affairs. Those diagnosed with trauma- or stress-related mental health disorders had even higher hospitalization costs—$825 higher per delivery—and 87% higher rates of severe maternal morbidity. The researchers analyzed 2016 and 2017data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample. Their findings provide important information for perinatal mental health program feasibility and cost-effectiveness analyses and suggest the need for increased focus on trauma- and stress-related disorders.