Pregnant adolescent women's perceptions of depression and psychiatric services in the United States.

The study used a convenience sample of 20 women from two public prenatal clinics in the southeastern United States, so findings cannot be generalized. Participants were selected for EPDS scores of 10 or higher, so the findings describe adolescents already flagged for probable depression. Member checking was not employed, and interpretation relied on expert consultants and coder consensus. Interviewers were the principal investigator and a social worker with psychiatric social work training, which may shape data collection and interpretation. Trauma history was disclosed more often during the intervention component of the larger study than during the initial interview.

Do not read these themes as proof that flexible scheduling or additional services reduce depression. The study described perceptions and service histories in 20 pregnant adolescents and did not test any intervention or outcome.