Ascend Health Announces Mother-Infant Outpatient Program for Treatment of Post-partum Depression

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascend Health Corporation, through Cedar Hills Hospital, announced the opening of the Mother-Infant Outpatient Program, the first in the Pacific Northwest region where new mothers can receive treatment with their children in a safe, caring and convenient setting.  Cedar Hills Hospital is a facility of Ascend Health Corporation.

Post-partum depression is a serious illness that affects one in ten new mothers in the United States.  Currently, no post-partum depression treatment program exists in the Pacific Northwest that brings the mother and infant together during the mother's treatment, a method shown to improve outcomes.  To meet the need for this specialized treatment, Cedar Hills Hospital developed the Mother-Infant Program in partnership with the Wildwood Psychiatric Resource Center, a premier treatment program.

"Removing the baby from the mother only deepens the depression for the mother and worsens the disease," says Nicole Harrington Cirino, M.D., Medical Director for the Mother-Infant Program at Cedar Hills Hospital. "The new Mother-Infant program alleviates that problem with a very new approach that builds upon the natural bond between the mother and child."

Dr. Cirino, also a staff member at the Wildwood Psychiatric Resource Center, was recently named by her peers as one of Portland's top psychiatric doctors in the January 2011 issue of Portland Monthly magazine.

Post-partum depression risk factors for new mothers include prior history of post-partum depression, bipolar disorder, a difficult labor or delivery, and/or a previous depression episode.

About the Mother-Infant Outpatient Program

Cedar Hills Hospital's Mother-Infant Program addresses the mental health of new mothers and infants at the beginning of their lifelong relationship. Cedar Hills Hospital uses an evidence-based approach to treat peri-partum mood disorders. Located in Beaverton, Oregon, the Mother-Infant Program is part of Cedar Hills Hospital's Outpatient Center. Patients and their infant can be referred to the program by medical practitioners, community professionals, or by self-referral.

The Mother-Infant Outpatient Program services include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression;
• Medication assessment;
• Interpersonal therapy for relationship issues;
• Couples and family therapy;
• Mindfulness training and emotional regulation;
• Insight-oriented psychotherapy;
• Infant care instruction including assistance with lactation, sleep, and colic;
• Infant massage and other techniques for mother-child bonding; and,
• Onsite child care for infants less than one year of age.

About Ascend Health

Ascend Health Corporation is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services.  Ascend operates eight psychiatric facilities with close to 800 beds, including seven psychiatric hospitals and one substance abuse treatment facility.  Accredited by The Joint Commission, Ascend Health's facilities provide specialized psychiatric care to patients with a full range of inpatient and day hospital services for children, adolescents, adults and seniors.  For more information, please visit www.ascendhealth.net.

SOURCE Ascend Health Corporation