Internet delivered cognitive behavior therapy for antenatal depression: A randomised controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Digital Health
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Major depression affects 5-10% of pregnancies, posing risks to mother and child.
• Limited treatment options exist for antenatal depression.
• Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ICBT) is a potential intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the efficacy of a pregnancy-adapted ICBT program for antenatal depression.
• To assess the acceptability and adherence of this ICBT intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 42 pregnant women with major depression.
• Participants were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus a 10-week ICBT program.
• Outcomes included depressive symptoms (MADRS-S), anxiety, sleep, credibility, satisfaction, and adherence.

Main Results:

• The ICBT group showed significantly lower depressive symptoms post-treatment (p < 0.001).
• ICBT participants were more likely to be responders (RR = 0.36; p = 0.004).
• Treatment credibility, satisfaction, utilization, and adherence were comparable to standard ICBT.

Conclusions:

• Pregnancy-adapted ICBT is feasible, acceptable, and efficacious for antenatal depression.
• These findings require replication in larger trials to validate the results.