Our project manager and PhD student Philipp Schöch dedicates his thesis to perinatal mental illnesses in fathers.
He is currently working on identifying existing screening tools for fathers, evaluating their psychometric characteristics and applicability, and highlighting research gaps and limitations.
To what extent are mental illnesses during the perinatal period an issue for fathers?
The importance of mental illness in fathers during the perinatal period has been increasingly recognized in recent years. About one in ten fathers are affected by perinatal mental illness and despite the growing awareness of men’s mental health at this stage of life, there are still major challenges in identifying it. Social stigma and men’s reluctance to seek help further exacerbate this problem. Neglecting the mental health needs of new fathers not only puts them at increased risk for mental illness, but also has a profound and long-lasting impact on their families, their children, and their self-esteem as they navigate their new role in the family dynamics.
What are the challenges and research gaps in the screening of perinatal mental illness in fathers?
The biggest challenge in screening fathers with mental illnesses in the perinatal period lies in the selection of suitable screening instruments. While the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most commonly used screening tool for mothers and fathers, it does not adequately capture atypical depressive symptoms in men. There is a lack of consensus on the limit values and the sensitivity of the instrument varies significantly due to cultural and socio-demographic factors. A variety of other screening tools have been identified, but most of them are general in nature and are not specifically designed for perinatal mental health.
There is therefore an urgent need for screening tools that are specifically tailored to fathers during the perinatal period.
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