Cited by 78Digital Mental Health InterventionsMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Treatment of nulliparous women with severe fear of childbirth via the Internet: a feasibility study

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Nieminen, Katri, Andersson, Gerhard, Wijma, Barbro, Ryding, Elsa-Lena, Wijma, Klaas·2016·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility of Internet interventions among nulliparous women suffering from severe fear of childbirth (FOC) by means of an Internet-delivered therapist-supported self-help program based on cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT). DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: A feasibility study of an ICBT program for the treatment of severe FOC in pregnant women. SAMPLE: Twenty-eight Swedish-speaking nulliparous women with severe FOC recruited via a project home page from January 2012 to December 2013. METHODS: The main components of the ICBT program for the treatment of severe FOC comprised psycho-education, breathing retraining, cognitive restructuring, imaginary exposure, in vivo exposure and relapse prevention. The study participants were anonymously self-recruited over the Internet, interviewed by telephone and then enrolled. All participants were offered 8 weeks of treatment via the Internet. Participants reported their homework weekly, submitted measurements of their fear and received feedback from a therapist via a secure online contact management system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Level of FOC measured with the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ A) during screening at enrollment and weekly during the treatment (W-DEQ version A), and after the delivery (W-DEQ version B). RESULTS: A statistically significant (p < 0.0005) decrease of FOC [W-DEQ sum score decreased pre to post-therapy, with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.95)]. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this feasibility study suggest that ICBT has potential in the treatment of severe FOC during pregnancy in motivated nulliparous women. The results need to be confirmed by randomized controlled studies.

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Crossref · 10.3109/0167482x.2016.1140143

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Authors
Nieminen, K., Andersson, G., Wijma, B., Ryding, E.-L., & Wijma, K.
Affiliations
  • Linköping University (SE)
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
Corresponding author
Nieminen, Katri
Venue
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
Published
2016-02-26
Volume
37
Issue
2
Pages
37-43
ISSN
  • 0167-482X (ISSN-L)
  • 1743-8942
OpenAlex
W2287803703
Cited by
78
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2
FWCI
14.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
fear of childbirth, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, nulliparous women, pregnant women, feasibility, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, breathing retraining, cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, relapse prevention, psychoeducation
MeSH terms
Adult, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Parity, Phobic Disorders, Self Care, Severity of Illness Index, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Internet, Parturition

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