Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review
N Valverde1, E Mollejo2, L Legarra3
1Faculty of Psychology, Department of Assessment, Personality and Clinical Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Campus of Somosaguas s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain. nvalverd@ucm.es.
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|April 8, 2023
Summary
Psychodynamic therapy shows promise for treating postpartum depression in women. This systematic review found it effective in various settings, though more rigorous research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Postpartum depression affects 5-26% of women, impacting maternal and infant well-being.
- Psychological treatments are effective for mild-to-moderate symptoms.
- No prior systematic reviews have focused on psychodynamic therapy for postpartum depression.
Approach:
- Systematic review of quantitative studies published in English up to January 2023.
- Searched PsycINFO, Psycarticles, and PubMed databases.
- Included interventions targeting postpartum depression during pregnancy or within 12 months postpartum; excluded case studies and qualitative research.
Key Points:
- Seven trials with 521 women met inclusion criteria.
- Included three randomized controlled trials and four longitudinal studies.
- Interventions were delivered individually or in groups, with EPDS being the most common assessment tool.
Conclusions:
- All included studies reported efficacy of psychodynamic interventions for postpartum depression.
- Effectiveness was observed in both home and clinical settings, and in group and individual formats.
- Limitations include a small number of trials, small sample sizes, and a lack of robust control groups.
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