Gunilla Lönnberg1, Wibke Jonas2, Eva Unternaehrer3, Richard Bränström4, Eva Nissen5, Maria Niemi6. 1. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: gunilla.lonnberg@ki.se. 2. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: wibke.jonas@ki.se. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Constance, Germany. Electronic address: eva.unternahrer@uni-konstanz.de. 4. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: richard.branstrom@ki.se. 5. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. 6. Department of Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Center for Social Sustainability, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.niemi@ki.se.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Program (MBCP) in reducing pregnant women's perceived stress and preventing perinatal depression compared to an active control condition. METHOD:First time pregnant women (n = 197) at risk of perinatal depression were randomized to MBCP or an active control treatment, which consisted of a Lamaze childbirth class. At baseline and post-intervention, participants filled out questionnaires on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, positive states of mind, and five facets of mindfulness. RESULTS: Compared to the active control treatment, MBCP significantly reduced perceived stress (p = 0.038, d = 0.30) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.004, d = 0.42), and increased positive states of mind (p = 0.005, d = 0.41) and self-reported mindfulness (p = 0.039, d = 0.30). Moreover, change in mindfulness possibly mediated the treatment effects of MBCP on stress, depression symptoms, and positive states of mind. The subscales "non-reactivity to inner experience" and "non-judging of experience" seemed to have the strongest mediating effects. LIMITATIONS: The outcomes were self-report questionnaires, the participants were not blinded to treatment condition and the condition was confounded by number of sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MBCP is more effective in decreasing perceived stress and risk of perinatal depression compared to a Lamaze childbirth class. The results also contribute to our understanding of the underlying psychological mechanisms through which the reduction of stress and depression symptoms may operate. Thus, this study increases our knowledge about efficient intervention strategies to prevent perinatal depression and promote mental wellbeing among pregnant women.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Program (MBCP) in reducing pregnant women's perceived stress and preventing perinatal depression compared to an active control condition. METHOD: First time pregnant women (n = 197) at risk of perinatal depression were randomized to MBCP or an active control treatment, which consisted of a Lamaze childbirth class. At baseline and post-intervention, participants filled out questionnaires on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, positive states of mind, and five facets of mindfulness. RESULTS: Compared to the active control treatment, MBCP significantly reduced perceived stress (p = 0.038, d = 0.30) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.004, d = 0.42), and increased positive states of mind (p = 0.005, d = 0.41) and self-reported mindfulness (p = 0.039, d = 0.30). Moreover, change in mindfulness possibly mediated the treatment effects of MBCP on stress, depression symptoms, and positive states of mind. The subscales "non-reactivity to inner experience" and "non-judging of experience" seemed to have the strongest mediating effects. LIMITATIONS: The outcomes were self-report questionnaires, the participants were not blinded to treatment condition and the condition was confounded by number of sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MBCP is more effective in decreasing perceived stress and risk of perinatal depression compared to a Lamaze childbirth class. The results also contribute to our understanding of the underlying psychological mechanisms through which the reduction of stress and depression symptoms may operate. Thus, this study increases our knowledge about efficient intervention strategies to prevent perinatal depression and promote mental wellbeing among pregnant women.
Authors: Lianne P Hulsbosch; Myrthe G B M Boekhorst; Eva S Potharst; Victor J M Pop; Ivan Nyklíček Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2020-09-08 Impact factor: 3.633
Authors: Julieta Galante; Claire Friedrich; Anna F Dawson; Marta Modrego-Alarcón; Pia Gebbing; Irene Delgado-Suárez; Radhika Gupta; Lydia Dean; Tim Dalgleish; Ian R White; Peter B Jones Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2021-01-11 Impact factor: 11.069