Preventing perinatal depression in Spain: a pilot evaluation of Mamás y Bebés

Objective: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioural intervention to prevent perinatal depressive symptoms in pregnant women at high risk for perinatal depression in Spain. Background: Perinatal depression (PD) can negatively affect maternal and infant outcomes. Mamás y Bebés/The Mothers and Babies Course (MBC) is an evidence-based CBT intervention aimed at teaching women at high risk for depression mood regulation skills to prevent depression in the United States, including Spanish-speaking perinatal women in the United States. However, there is limited research on preventive interventions for PD in Spain. Method: Pregnant women screened for high risk for PD were recruited in their first trimester in an obstetrics clinic at two urban hospitals in Spain. In a non-experimental design, 30 women completed eight weekly group sessions of the MBC. The Patient Health Questionnaire was the main depression outcome at four time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3 months and 6 months postpartum. Participants completed an evaluation questionnaire at the end of each session to assess the acceptability of the intervention. Results: The MBC was effective in reducing depressive symptoms from baseline to all three time points: post-intervention, 3 and 6 months postpartum. Attendance was high (76.7% attended all eight sessions). Mothers reported positive feedback from the participating in the MBC. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the intervention is feasible, acceptable, and provides promising evidence for reducing depressive symptoms in urban Spanish perinatal women. Larger and rigorous randomised trials are needed to confirm these findings.