Psychological intervention for universal prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression among pregnant women: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background: Prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression is crucial, given its high prevalence and severe consequences. Although several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the effects of psychological interventions on the population at risk for perinatal depression, few studies have focused on universal prevention and none have focused specifically on universal prevention in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of psychological interventions with a universal prevention focus on perinatal depression during pregnancy by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis based on both the latest articles and a broader literature search. Methods: The literature search will be conducted using the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, PubMed and PsycINFO, from inception onwards. Randomized controlled trials that examined the association between psychological interventions and universal prevention of antenatal and postnatal depression among pregnant women will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted following a priori defined methods in the protocol. Discussion: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis will have both clinical and political importance in the context of perinatal mental health. In addition, this study will promote future studies and clarify the direction of research on universal prevention of perinatal depression. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019118041
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Universal prevention (e.g., CBT, IPT, mindfulness, and psychoeducation) during pregnancy is effective in decreasing symptoms of maternal distress compared to routine care.
“Studies suggest that universal prevention (e.g., CBT, IPT, mindfulness, and psychoeducation) during pregnancy is effective in decreasing symptoms of maternal distress compared to routine care and recommends psychotherapy as a part of standard prenatal self-care [178, 194, 195].”
From Brain structural and functional outcomes in the offspring of women experiencing psychological distress during pregnancy (2024) · cites this paper as [194]
The Background reports that CBT and IPT have been found effective for preventing perinatal depression, particularly among people with risk factors. But it says evidence specifically on universal prevention beginning in pregnancy is limited. The Methods describe a planned comparison with usual care, not a finding that universal prevention reduces maternal distress; the cited passages also do not establish effectiveness for mindfulness or psychoeducation. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Yasuma, N., Narita, Z., Sasaki, N., Obikane, E., Sekiya, J., Inagawa, T., Nakajima, A., Yamada, Y., Yamazaki, R., Matsunaga, A., Saito, T., Watanabe, K., Imamura, K., Kawakami, N., & Nishi, D.
- Affiliations
- National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (JP)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Jikei University School of Medicine (JP)
- Juntendo University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Nishi, Daisuke
- ORCID
- Venue
- Systematic Reviews
- Published
- 2019-12
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 297-297
- ISSN
- 2046-4053 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6886216
- OpenAlex
- W2989988661
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 0.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (19H01073)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Keywords
- perinatal depression, antenatal depression, postpartum depression, universal prevention, psychological intervention, pregnant women, perinatal mental health, prevention
- MeSH terms
- Systematic Reviews as Topic, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Research Design, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Depression, Postpartum
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