Online Peer-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Aids Postpartum Depression
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Sept. 14, 2023 -- Online peer-delivered group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for treating postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
Donya Merza, from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine if a synchronous online nine-week group CBT intervention delivered by mothers who recovered from PPD could effectively improve PPD and its comorbidities. The analysis included 183 participants with an infant aged younger than 12 months.
The researchers found significant reductions in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 scores, with improvements persisting three months postintervention. There were also postintervention improvements in maternal social support, infant-focused anxiety, and infant negative emotionality, which persisted three months later.
"This intervention could provide the means to increase access to treatment for those experiencing PPD and improve outcomes for mothers, birthing parents, and families," the authors write. "Given its effectiveness, potential cost-savings, and the number of potential peer facilitators that could be trained, this intervention could serve as an important early step in stepped care models for the treatment of PPD."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2023
Read this next
Implantable Continuous Flow Device Feasible for Small Children With Severe Systolic Heart Failure
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- The Jarvik 2015 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) seems promising as an implantable continuous flow device for small children with severe systolic...
Clinical Practice Guideline Developed for Age-Related Hearing Loss
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- In a clinical practice guideline issued by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation and published online April 30 in...
Large Language Models Fall Short in Breast Imaging Classification
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- Large language models (LLMs) appear to fall short in classification of breast imaging, which can have a negative impact on clinical management, according...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.