Physical exercise programme during pregnancy decreases perinatal depression risk: a randomised controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Mental Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Perinatal depression affects many mothers, impacting maternal and infant well-being.
• Early intervention is crucial for managing mood disorders during pregnancy and postpartum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a structured exercise program in mitigating perinatal depression risk.
• To assess the impact of antenatal exercise on depression incidence in late pregnancy and postpartum.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 124 healthy pregnant women (<16 weeks gestation).
• Intervention group: 60-minute exercise sessions, 3 times/week throughout pregnancy.
• Depression assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale at baseline, 38 weeks gestation, and 6 weeks postpartum.

Main Results:

• No significant baseline depression differences between intervention and control groups.
• Significantly lower depression rates in the exercise group at 38 weeks gestation (18.6% vs 35.6%) and 6 weeks postpartum (14.5% vs 29.8%) per-protocol analysis.
• Intention-to-treat analysis showed significant results at 38 weeks gestation via multiple imputation.

Conclusions:

• Antenatal exercise programs show promise in reducing the prevalence of perinatal depression.
• Exercise interventions may be a valuable strategy for improving maternal mental health during and after pregnancy.