Effect of the thinking healthy programme-based internet intervention model for maternal perinatal depression: A pilot...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Psychosocial Interventions
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• The Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) is an established, evidence-based psychosocial intervention adaptable for delivery by non-specialists.
• While THP has been utilized globally in maternal health, its application within Chinese maternal and child health settings remained undocumented.
• This study addresses the gap by exploring THP's feasibility in China.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of the Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) model for enhancing perinatal mental health and infant development.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of THP when implemented by non-psychologists, such as nurses, among Chinese pregnant women.
• To examine improvements in perinatal depressive symptoms and infant growth.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 122 pregnant women with elevated depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] ≥ 10) in Fujian Province.
• Participants were assigned to either an intervention group (THP online delivery + enhanced usual care) or a control group (enhanced usual care only).
• Maternal depressive symptoms (EPDS, PHQ-9), infant growth, breastfeeding duration, and BMI-for-age z-scores were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum.

Main Results:

• The Generalized Linear Mixed Model revealed significant time effects on EPDS and PHQ-9 scores, indicating a reduction in depressive symptoms within the intervention group over time (p < 0.001).
• The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant longer breastfeeding duration (p = 0.012) at 6 months postpartum compared to the control group.
• While not statistically significant, the intervention group showed a trend towards lower BMI-for-age z-scores post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• The THP-based online intervention model is feasible and effective in improving maternal perinatal depressive symptoms and offers benefits for maternal and infant health.
• The findings support the adaptability and implementation of the THP model by non-psychologists in Chinese maternal and child health contexts.
• Limitations include a single-center design and small sample size; further large-scale, multicenter studies are recommended to confirm these findings and explore long-term effects.