(1221) Perinatal Mental Health on TikTok: What Does Medical Content Look Like?

Of the 192 #PPD, 162 #PPA, and 216 #MMH videos identified, 175 (91.2%), 159 (98.1%), and 110 (50.9%) were relevant, respectively (Table 1). Most videos were created by women (70.7%) without professional credentials (74.1%) and shared personal experiences (71.8%). Common features included catchy music and visual enhancements (Table 2). Median GQS scores were 3 (interquartile range of 2–3 for #PPD and #PPA; 2–4 for #MMH), suggesting limited to potentially misleading educational value. Of those that addressed medical topics, the majority were supportive of diagnosis and treatment (Table 2). Of the 57 videos making medical claims, 57.9% (n=33) accurately described symptoms, and 47.4% (n=27) included accurate treatment information. While only 8.3% of all videos were commercial in nature, 28.1% of those making medical claims were associated with product promotion.

Conclusion:
Engaging qualified medical voices are needed in the perinatal mental health space, as the educational quality of maternal mental health content on TikTok is currently limited, with a risk of misinformation and commercialization. The dominance of personal narratives may indicate a social benefit other than education, which needs further investigation.