A mindfulness and compassion-based program applied to pregnant women and their partners to decrease depression symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the efficacy of an adapted Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program, including compassion training, in reducing perinatal depression among pregnant women in Spanish primary care settings.
Results Summary
The study proposes to evaluate the program's impact on depression (measured by EPDS) and secondary outcomes like stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion, but results are not yet reported as it is a planned RCT.
Population
Pregnant women (n=122) and their partners in Spanish primary care settings.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Assessments at baseline, post-treatment, and at three and six months after childbirth (exact intervention duration not specified).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness and compassion-based educational programs | decrease | perinatal mood disorders | women in the perinatal period | - | could be efficacious and cost-effective options | #1 |
adapted Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program that includes compassion training | decrease | perinatal depression | pregnant women in primary care (PC) settings in the Spanish National Health System | - | to decrease | #2 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | depression | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #3 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | perceived stress | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #4 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | affects | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #5 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | mindfulness | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #6 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | self-compassion | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #7 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | maternal self-efficacy | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #8 |
adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU) | neutral | use of health and social services | pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners | - | will be assessed | #9 |
childbirth education program that incorporates mindfulness and compassion practices | decrease | perinatal depression | expectant women and their partners | - | may be a beneficial preventive complementary healthcare modality | #10 |
adapted MBCP and compassion practices | decrease | symptoms of depression | women during pregnancy and the postpartum period | - | to reduce | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of great change for women and their partners, often bringing substantial challenges and stress. Approximately 10%-20% of women suffer from mood disorders such as depression in the perinatal period. There are risks involved in using psychopharmacological interventions to treat perinatal depression. Mindfulness and compassion-based educational programs could be efficacious and cost-effective options for the prevention and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of an adapted Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program that includes compassion training for pregnant women in primary care (PC) settings in the Spanish National Health System to decrease perinatal depression. METHODS: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted. Participants will be pregnant women (n = 122) and their partners who wish to participate. They will be enrolled and assessed in PC settings and randomly assigned to either: (1) an adapted MBCP educational program tailored to the Spanish National Health System + treatment as usual (TAU); or (2) TAU only. The main outcome to be assessed will be depression, evaluated with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Secondary outcomes will include self-reported measures of perceived stress, affects, mindfulness, self-compassion, maternal self-efficacy, and use of health and social services. Patients will be assessed at four timepoints: baseline; post-treatment; and at three and six months after childbirth. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be carried out using linear regression mixed models. Effect sizes will be estimated using Cohen's d. DISCUSSION: Perinatal depression is a significant health problem. An effective and low-cost childbirth education program that incorporates mindfulness and compassion practices may be a beneficial preventive complementary healthcare modality for expectant women and their partners. This study will be the first multicenter RCT in Spanish PC settings using adapted MBCP and compassion practices to reduce symptoms of depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03247491. Registered on 31 July 2017.