Staying well during pregnancy and the postpartum: A pilot randomized trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the prevention of depressive relapse/recurrence.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Perinatal Depression (MBCT-PD) compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in preventing depressive relapse/recurrence in pregnant women with histories of depression.
Results Summary
MBCT-PD was found to be highly acceptable, with higher session completion, at-home practice adherence, and satisfaction compared to TAU. Participants in the MBCT-PD group showed significantly lower rates of depressive relapse/recurrence and reduced depressive symptom severity through 6 months postpartum.
Population
Pregnant adult women with histories of depression recruited from obstetric clinics at two sites.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Through 6 months postpartum
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapted for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) | no change | treatment acceptability | pregnant adult women with depression histories | - | was acceptable | #1 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapted for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) | increase | satisfaction with services | pregnant adult women with depression histories | - | significantly higher | #2 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapted for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) | increase | depressive outcomes | pregnant adult women with depression histories | - | significantly improved | #3 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapted for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) | decrease | rates of depressive relapse/recurrence | pregnant adult women with depression histories | - | significantly lower | #4 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapted for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) | decrease | depressive symptom severity | pregnant adult women with depression histories | - | lower | #5 |
teaching the skills and practices of mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy during pregnancy | decrease | risk of depression | pregnant women with histories of depression | - | may help to reduce | #6 |
OBJECTIVE: Clinical decision-making regarding the prevention of depression is complex for pregnant women with histories of depression and their health care providers. Pregnant women with histories of depression report preference for nonpharmacological care, but few evidence-based options exist. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has strong evidence in the prevention of depressive relapse/recurrence among general populations and indications of promise as adapted for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD). With a pilot randomized clinical trial, our aim was to evaluate treatment acceptability and efficacy of MBCT-PD relative to treatment as usual (TAU). METHOD: Pregnant adult women with depression histories were recruited from obstetric clinics at 2 sites and randomized to MBCT-PD (N = 43) or TAU (N = 43). Treatment acceptability was measured by assessing completion of sessions, at-home practice, and satisfaction. Clinical outcomes were interview-based depression relapse/recurrence status and self-reported depressive symptoms through 6 months postpartum. RESULTS: Consistent with predictions, MBCT-PD for at-risk pregnant women was acceptable based on rates of completion of sessions and at-home practice assignments, and satisfaction with services was significantly higher for MBCT-PD than TAU. Moreover, at-risk women randomly assigned to MBCT-PD reported significantly improved depressive outcomes compared with participants receiving TAU, including significantly lower rates of depressive relapse/recurrence and lower depressive symptom severity during the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: MBCT-PD is an acceptable and clinically beneficial program for pregnant women with histories of depression; teaching the skills and practices of mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioral therapy during pregnancy may help to reduce the risk of depression during an important transition in many women's lives.