Kathleen Jagodnik

Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholar Kathleen Jagodnik publishes paper in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM

Paper abstract:
Maternal mental disorders are considered a leading complication of childbirth and a common contributor to maternal death. In addition to undermining maternal welfare, untreated postpartum psychopathology can result in child emotional and physical neglect, and associated significant pediatric health costs. Some women may experience a traumatic childbirth and develop posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following delivery (CB-PTSD). Although women are routinely screened for postpartum depression in the US, there is no recommended protocol to inform the identification of women who are likely to experience CB-PTSD. Advancements in computational methods of free text have shown promise in informing diagnosis of psychiatric conditions. Although the language in narratives of stressful events has been associated with post-trauma outcomes, whether the narratives of childbirth processed via machine learning can be useful for CB-PTSD screening is unknown.