ABSTRACT
Inquiring whether a woman is experiencing scary thoughts is necessary to adequately help her. The most direct way to screen for scary thoughts is by asking, “Are you having any thoughts that are scaring you?” This chapter reviews the range of responses and reactions women may have to this question, and encourages clinicians to respond to women with patience and kindness. The need for routine screening and the role different providers can play in screening for scary thoughts are also reviewed. Specific recommendations for how to ask perinatal women about their scary thoughts are presented.
