Prevention and treatment of post-partum depression: a controlled randomized study on women at risk.
BACKGROUND
Research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of prevention and treatment for post-partum depression.


METHODS
Subjects were screened with the Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale (EPDS) at the obstetric clinic. Mothers at risk (N = 258) (EPDS scores > or = 9) were randomly assigned to a prevention/treatment group or a control group. The prevention group received one cognitive-behavioural prevention session during hospitalization. At 4 to 6 weeks post-partum, subjects were screened again with the EPDS, after drop-out rates (refusals plus no return of the second EPDS) of 25.4% (33/130) in the intervention group and 10.9% (14/128) in the control group. Mothers with probable depression (EPDS scores > or = 11) were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Mothers with major depression continued in the treatment group (N = 18) or in the control group (N = 30). Treated subjects received a cognitive-behavioural programme of between five and eight weekly home-visits.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, women in the prevention group had significant reductions in the frequency of probable depression (30.2 % v. 48.2%). Recovery rates based on HDRS scores of < 7 and BDI scores of < 4 were also significantly greater in the treated group than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that this programme for prevention and treatment of post-partum depression is reasonably well-accepted and efficacious.
Chabrol
H
H
Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche en Psychopathologie, Université de Toulouse-Le-Mirail, France.
Teissedre
F
F
Saint-Jean
M
M
Teisseyre
N
N
Rogé
B
B
Mullet
E
E
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome