Original Research J Clin Psychiatry September 2026

Utilizing a Smartphone Application for Perinatal Depression Screening and Care Linkages: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study

JCP 2026;87(4):10.4088/JCP.26m16429

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. Clinical Summary Perinatal depression is both common and dangerous in the postpartum period, yet many women do not return for follow-up care and more than 50% of symptoms go unrecognized. This study asks whether a smartphone-based monitoring program can identify postpartum depressive symptoms and connect patients to same-day follow-up and higher-acuity care when needed. FAQ How well did the MOMitor smartphone app identify postpartum patients with symptoms of perinatal depression?

Key Takeaways The single prescreening question, “Overall, are you feeling happy or sad?” should be used only as a triage step, not as a substitute for the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, because sensitivity was 65.7% despite specificity of 92.6%. Clinical Guide How should clinicians use a smartphone-based workflow to screen postpartum patients for perinatal depression over the first 6 weeks after delivery? Clinical Guide How should clinicians respond when a smartphone-based postpartum depression assessment triggers concern for perinatal depression or suicidality?