The effectiveness of exercise as a treatment for postnatal depression: study protocol.
BACKGROUND
Postnatal depression can have a substantial impact on the woman, the child and family as a whole. Thus, there is a need to examine different ways of helping women experiencing postnatal depression; encouraging them to exercise may be one way. A meta analysis found some support for exercise as an adjunctive treatment for postnatal depression but the methodological inadequacy of the few small studies included means that it is uncertain whether exercise reduces symptoms of postnatal depression. We aim to determine whether a pragmatic exercise intervention that involves one-to-one personalised exercise consultations and telephone support plus usual care in women with postnatal depression, is superior to usual care only, in reducing symptoms of postnatal depression.


METHODS
We aim to recruit 208 women with postnatal depression in the West Midlands. Recently delivered women who meet the ICD-10 diagnosis for depression will be randomised to usual care plus exercise or usual care only. The exercise intervention will be delivered over 6 months. The primary outcome measure is difference in mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score between the groups at six month follow-up. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and at six and 12 month post randomisation.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from the research will inform future clinical guidance on antenatal and postnatal mental health, as well as inform practitioners working with postnatal depression.


BACKGROUND
ISRCTN84245563.
Primary Care Clinical Sciences, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. a.daley@bham.ac.uk
Amanda J
AJ
Daley
Kate
K
Jolly
Debbie J
DJ
Sharp
Katrina M
KM
Turner
Ruth V
RV
Blamey
Sarah
S
Coleman
Mary
M
McGuinness
Andrea K
AK
Roalfe
Ian
I
Jones
Christine
C
MacArthur
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome