A recent study published in Nature Medicine suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) provided by non-specialist providers during pregnancy can significantly decrease the likelihood of postnatal depression and anxiety.
Led by Pamela J. Surkan, Ph.D., Sc.D., of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the research focused on assessing the efficacy of an anxiety-focused prenatal intervention called the Happy Mother–Healthy Baby program. Conducted in Pakistan, the phase 3 trial involved pregnant women of up to 22 weeks gestation, experiencing at least mild anxiety but without clinical depression. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the six-session CBT-based intervention or enhanced care alone.
Of the 755 women who completed postnatal assessments, 380 were in the intervention group, while 375 received enhanced care. The findings revealed a notable reduction in the likelihood of experiencing major depressive episodes (MDE) or moderate-to-severe anxiety six weeks post-delivery among those who received the intervention (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.19). In total, 12 percent of participants in the intervention group developed MDE, compared to 41 percent in the enhanced care group. Similarly, the odds of postnatal MDE and moderate-to-severe anxiety were substantially lower in the intervention group (aORs, 0.19 and 0.26, respectively).
Commenting on the findings, Surkan emphasized the significance of identifying effective interventions and highlighted the need to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and practical implementation. She stressed the importance of exploring optimal strategies for delivering such treatments to individuals in need.
The study underscores the potential of cognitive therapy interventions during pregnancy to mitigate the risk of postnatal depression and anxiety, offering promising avenues for supporting maternal mental health.
