Online therapy can effectively treat postnatal depression, say
University of Exeter researchers. Rates of postnatal depression (PND)
are high -- between 10 to 30 percent of mums are affected -- but many
cases go unreported and few women seek help.The team from the University of Exeter, supported by the National
Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied
Health Research and Care in the South West Peninsula (NIHR PenCLAHRC)
and with significant input from Netmums, have for the first time
investigated the feasibility of an internet-based Behavioural Action
(BA) treatment modified to address PND in two studies. Those who received the internet based treatment reported better results
for depression, work and social impairment, and anxiety scores
immediately after they had received the treatment. They also reported
better results for depression six months after treatment. The results, published in the journal Psychological Medicine,
indicate that such an internet-based facility for treatment could have a
positive effect on PND as a whole, providing new mums with support at
times which are convenient to them and allowing them to complete a
course of therapy. Dr. Heather O'Mahen from the University of Exeter who led the study
said: "The high number of cases of PND, and the comparatively poor take
up of help from those affected by it, are worrying. This study, and
another recently published study by our team, which looked at a
self-help version of the treatment delivered online and had 910 women
sign up, 364 of whom completed, are the first to investigate the
effectiveness of using an internet-based therapy to provide mums with
PND with the support they would have traditionally received in a
clinic-based environment. The results are enough to convince us that
such an approach is indeed a feasible one." She added: "Our hope is that this will allow more women to access and
benefit from support, with all the knock-on positives that come from
that: happier families, improved quality of life for mums; and a
reduction in the demands such cases can bring to stretched health
services around the world. This treatment is an accessible and
potentially cost-effective option, and one that could easily be
incorporated into mental healthcare provision." The team designed and assessed a 12-session, modular, internet BA
treatment that was supported by telephone calls with a mental health
worker. A total of 249 mums were recruited via UK parenting site,
Netmums.com. The mothers received information about the program through
Netmums newsletter adverts, emails, and online adverts. They completed
online forms and were asked questions about their mood in a telephone
interview with a research assistant. Of those, 83 met the necessary
criteria for 'major depressive disorder' and they were randomly split
into two groups: one received 'treatment as usual'; the other the
internet based treatment. Women in the treatment group could sign onto
the online program and chose modules relevant to their needs. For
example, there were modules on 'being a good enough mum', 'changing
roles and relationships', 'sleep' and 'communication'. The participants
had weekly telephone sessions with a support worker who helped support
the women through the program. Mothers report favouring therapy over drug-based solutions, especially
if they are breastfeeding, but for many new mums accessing traditional
clinic-based therapy is difficult: transportation, childcare, variable
feeding and nap times, all conspire to make it hard to keep
appointments. It is critical to provide new mothers with treatments that
work for them; however a recent NSPCC report noted that there is no
specialist perinatal provision or training in Increasing Access to
Psychological Therapies (IAPT), the main providers of mental health care
in primary care.Source:Psychological Medicine
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