Antenatal mobile-delivered mindfulness-based intervention to reduce perinatal depression risk and improve obstetric and neonatal outcomes: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the short- and long-term efficacy of a mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on perinatal depression, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes.
Results Summary
The mindfulness group showed significant reductions in depression from baseline to post-intervention, sustained until 4-6 weeks postpartum, along with reduced risk of emergent cesarean section and higher Apgar scores in newborns. The intervention also mediated lower emergency cesarean risk through depression reduction before birth.
Population
Pregnant women (average age 30.6 years, mean gestational age 18.8 weeks) suffering from heightened distress.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Intervention duration not explicitly stated, but outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, 37th-week gestation, and 4-6 weeks postpartum.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | depression | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | adjusted mean change difference [β] = -3.9; 95%CI = [-6.05, -1.81]; d = -0.6 | showed a significantly greater reduction in | #1 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | depression | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | β = -6.3; 95%CI = [-8.43, -4.12]; d = -1.0 | reduction sustained until 4-6 weeks postpartum | #2 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | emergent cesarean section | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | relative risk = 0.5 | had a significantly reduced risk of | #3 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | increase | Apgar scores | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | β = 0.6; p = .03; d = 0.7 | gave birth to infants with higher | #4 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | emergency cesarean risk | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | - | Depression reduction before giving birth significantly mediated the intervention effect on lowering | #5 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | depression throughout pregnancy and postpartum | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | - | can be an acceptable and effective intervention for reducing | #6 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | decrease | emergent cesarean section risk | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | - | suggests the potential benefits of early prevention for mitigating | #7 |
mobile-delivered four-immeasurable Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) | increase | neonatal health | adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress | - | suggests the potential benefits of early prevention for enhancing | #8 |
OBJECTIVES: One in five mothers will experience perinatal depression (PND) during pregnancy and within their first year following childbirth. Current evidence suggests the short-term efficacy of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) for perinatal women, but the extent to which this positive impact remains the early postpartum period is unclear. This study investigated the short- and maintenance efficacy of a mobile-delivered four-immeasurable MBI on PND, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: Seventy-five adult pregnant women suffering from heightened distress were randomized to receive a mobile-delivered four-immeasurable MBI (n = 38) or a web-based perinatal education program (n = 37). PND was measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at baseline, post-intervention, 37th-week gestation, and 4-6 weeks postpartum. Outcomes also included obstetric and neonatal outcomes, trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and positive affect. RESULTS: Participants reported an average age of 30.6 (SD = 3.1) years with a mean gestational age of 18.8 (SD = 4.6) weeks. In intention-to-treat analyses, women in the mindfulness group showed a significantly greater reduction in depression from baseline to post-intervention (adjusted mean change difference [β] = -3.9; 95%CI = [-6.05, -1.81]; d = -0.6), and the reduction sustained until 4-6 weeks postpartum (β = -6.3; 95%CI = [-8.43, -4.12]; d = -1.0), compared with control. They had a significantly reduced risk of emergent cesarean section (relative risk = 0.5) and gave birth to infants with higher Apgar scores (β = 0.6;p = .03; d = 0.7). Depression reduction before giving birth significantly mediated the intervention effect on lowering the emergency cesarean risk. CONCLUSIONS: With a reasonably low dropout rate (13.2 %), the mobile-delivered MBI can be an acceptable and effective intervention for reducing depression throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Our study also suggests the potential benefits of early prevention for mitigating emergent cesarean section risk and enhancing neonatal health.