Effects of a psychological intervention on depression in infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors affecting depression in infertile couples and the impact of a psychological intervention before or during infertility treatment.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study with 638 infertile couples assessed for depression, 140 couples with a member who had a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score of 17 or higher were randomized to receive psychological treatment either before or during infertility treatment. Logistic regression was performed to eliminate confounding factors.


RESULTS
Depression was initially found in 48% of women and 23.8% of men. The mean+/-SD Beck scores fell from 18.7+/-9.7 to 10.7+/-5.8 (P<0.001) in the group psychologically treated before they received infertility treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychological intervention was found useful in alleviating depression in infertile couples before they received infertility treatment.
Noorbala
Ahmad A
AA
Psychiatric and Psychology Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. noorbala@yahoo.com
Ramazanzadeh
Fatemeh
F
Malekafzali
Hossein
H
Abedinia
Nasrin
N
Forooshani
Abbas R
AR
Shariat
Mamak
M
Jafarabadi
Mina
M
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*