Incorporating Family Members Into Treatment for Perinatal Psychiatric Disorders: A Pilot Program

Though perinatal psychiatric disorders affect the entire family, most perinatal mental health interventions only include mothers. Here, we detail the implementation of a single-session, virtual, family support group for partners and family members of mothers with perinatal psychiatric disorders.

The family support group was created within a mother-baby partial hospital program for people experiencing perinatal psychiatric disorders. Patients in the program provided consent to contact their partner or family member. This person was offered participation in a complementary, one-hour virtual support group. Led by a clinical psychologist, the support group was designed to serve as a standalone psychoeducational intervention on perinatal mood disorders. Sessions were offered bi-weekly to facilitate access. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous survey soliciting mixed-method feedback about the group.

Of 105 people who consented to contacting their family members regarding the support group, 70 (65%) family members reported interest, and of these, 45 (64%) attended a support group session. Among the 13 participants who provided feedback (29%), there was a high level of satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 M=27.25; score >24=high satisfaction) and the perception that participation increased their knowledge of and empathy toward their family member's experiences. The most common feedback was a desire for more sessions.

In this pilot study, a virtual family support group was feasible and yielded high participant satisfaction. Future research should examine how this or other digital programs could make perinatal mental health care more accessible for partners and family members.