Kara Hansen, LSCSW, LCSW, PMH-C, Fetal Health Center, received a one-year, $4,199 award for her study, “Depression Screening in a Fetal Care Center,” from Patient Care Services Research at Children’s Mercy.

“Depression is one of the most common medical complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, there is limited literature about depression in pregnant patients when there is a fetal anomaly diagnosis,” said Hansen.

This study’s goal is to help fill the current gap in the literature. The primary aim of Hansen’s study is to identify rates of depression in a prenatal and postpartum fetal care center population, where care is exclusively provided for patients expecting a baby with fetal anomalies, and by describing any common population characteristics associated with positive depression screening. A secondary objective is to analyze the rate of mental health referral acceptance and identify any common descriptors or potential risk factors in that subset.

The study’s co-investigators include Keith Feldman, PhD, Health Services and Outcomes Research, and Stephanie Kukora, MD, Neonatology.