Prenatal affective cognitive training: A proof-of-concept study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Perinatal Mental Health

Background:

• Negative cognitive bias towards infant stimuli during pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD).
• Targeting these cognitive biases may offer a novel preventative strategy for PPD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and effects of a brief affective cognitive training intervention.
• To investigate changes in cognitive responses to emotional infant stimuli in pregnant individuals at risk for PPD.

Main Methods:

• A proof-of-concept study involving 43 pregnant participants (23 high-risk, 20 low-risk for PPD).
• A two-week affective cognitive training intervention was administered.
• Cognitive responses to infant stimuli were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up.

Main Results:

• The intervention was feasible, with 80% completion and positive feedback.
• Participants showed increased sensitivity to happy infant faces, greater attention to infant stimuli, and reduced negative reactivity to infant distress.
• Improved sensitivity to happy infant faces correlated with fewer depressive symptoms six months postpartum.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal affective cognitive training is feasible and positively impacts cognitive responses to infant stimuli.
• Findings suggest potential for this intervention in reducing PPD risk, warranting further investigation.
• Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy in preventing PPD.