title: Can a brief antepartum preventive group intervention help reduce postpartum depressive symptomatology?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosocial and psychological interventions are generally effective in reducing depressive symptomatology in the postpartum period. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief preventive group intervention for postpartum depression (PPD) in a naturalistic setting, and study the effect of this on social and psychological risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized controlled trial (n = 1,719) in south-eastern Hungary in 62 antepartum centers. Pregnant women (n = 710) underwent a 4-session preventive group intervention whereas a control group (n = 1,009) attended 4 sessions providing the same information given in usual care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our intervention appeared to significantly reduce the risk of PPD, as defined by Leverton Questionnaire total scores (OR = 0.69). It resulted in an absolute risk reduction of about 18% in those with antepartum depression and 0.5% in those with no depression at recruitment. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a much reduced risk in those with a perceived lack of partner support (OR = 0.4) in the treatment group. Unplanned pregnancy, an irreversible risk factor affecting every fifth woman, also seemed to have a reduced effect on PPD after our group intervention (OR = 0.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A brief preventive antepartum group intervention focusing on psychoeducation, stress management, improving coping mechanisms, and the development of social support can be effective in reducing postpartum depressive symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Division, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevaal, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. kozinszkyz @ yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kozinszky
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dudas
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Devosa
authors.forename: Sarolta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Csatordai
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Dávid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sikovanyecz
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barabás
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pál
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D016015:Logistic Models; D061366:Numbers Needed To Treat; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy