Systematic Review of Online Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Underserved Populations

Online health interventions increase access to care, are acceptable to end users and effective for treating mental and physical health disorders. However, less is known about interventions to prevent and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). This review synthesizes existing research on PMAD prevention and treatment by exploring the treatment modalities and efficacy of online interventions and examining the inclusion of underserved populations in PMAD research.

Using PRISMA guidelines, authors conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2008 and 2018 on online interventions aimed to prevent or treat PMADs. The authors also assessed quality. Eligible articles included perinatal women participating in preventive studies or those aimed to reduce symptoms of PMADs and utilized a Web-based, Internet, or smartphone technology requiring an online component. This study excluded telephone-based interventions that required one-on-one conversations or individualized, text-based responses without a Web-based aspect.

The initial search yielded 511 articles, and the final analysis included 23 articles reporting on 22 interventions. Most studies used an experimental design. However, no study achieved an excellent or good quality rating. Psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) were most common. Several interventions using CBT strategies significantly decreased depression or anxiety. Four studies recruited and enrolled mainly people identifying as low-income or of a racial or ethnic minority group. Attrition was generally high across studies.

More research using rigorous study designs to test PMAD interventions across all perinatal times is needed. Future research needs to engage diverse populations purposefully.