title: [Effectiveness of a postnatal psychological treatment for women who had screened positive for depression].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effectiveness of a psychological intervention based on a brief cognitive behavioural and psycho-educational treatment for women suffering from post partum depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was recruited within a programme of screening and early intervention for post partum depression risk. 1558 women were screened between the 6th and 12th week after birth. 110 (7.1%) of them resulted positive to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (score ≥12) and 81 accepted a thorough clinical diagnostic examination through the administration of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the self-assessment instruments Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Psychological Well-being Scales, Short-Form Health Survey and Positivity Scale. Women who had been confirmed with the diagnosis of major depression episode (N=65; 80.2%) were offered to follow the treatment (10 weekly sessions) and to fill in again the instruments at the end of the treatment and after six months. Out of the 81, 63 women accepted and begun the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  56 (88.9%) women completed treatment and filled in the instruments. Most of them (N=43) completed the instruments even after 6 months. At the end of treatment and after 6 months significant improvements were found in all scores of the instruments used. Furthermore, up to 70% of women who had been treated showed a clinically significant improvement in one or more evaluated outcomes. Such improvements were persistent in women evaluated 6 months after the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study are consistent with studies that in other Countries evaluated, even experimentally, the same intervention or similar interventions with postnatal women and based on cognitive behavioural techniques. Such brief and structured interventions are most likely effective and easily accepted by women who suffer from post partum depression even in the routine practice of Italian health care services.
authors.affiliation: Reparto Salute Mentale, Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
authors.forename: Fiorino
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirabella
authors.affiliation: Azienda ULSS 9, Distretto Socio-Sanitario Nord (Treviso).
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michielin
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.affiliation: ASReM, Distretto Sanitario di Campobasso.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veltro
authors.affiliation: Azienda ULSS 9, Distretto Socio-Sanitario Nord (Treviso).
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST), Bergamo Ovest.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.affiliation: Reparto Salute Mentale, Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.affiliation: Reparto Salute Mentale, Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gigantesco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058443:Catastrophization; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D012008:Recurrence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome