This paper explores the potential benefits of the use of mobile health (mHealth) apps in obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN)-embedded psychiatric clinics in the United States. First, we highlight the increasing trend of integrating mental health care within the OB-GYN context. Second, we provide examples of successful uses of mHealth in the global health context and highlight the dearth of available research in the United States. Finally, we provide a summary of the shortcomings of currently available apps and describe the upcoming trial of a novel app currently underway at the Mother-Child Wellness Clinical and Research Center at Boston Medical Center.
Keywords: OB-GYN; eHealth; embedded psychiatric clinic; global health; mHealth; mental health; postpartum depression; reproductive health.
©Aydan Mehralizade, Shayna Schor, Chad M Coleman, Claire E Oppenheim, Christy A Denckla, Christina PC Borba, David C Henderson, James Wolff, Sarah Crane, Pamela Nettles-Gomez, Avik Pal, Snezana Milanovic. Originally published in JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 06.10.2017.