The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy on postpartum depression

Abstract

Overview of the Topic: Postpartum depression is a common mental illness occurring among 10% to 15% of women in developed countries. It usually develops after postnatal blues which occur in 15% to 85% of women. Usually, women get care including pharmacological treatment which is not recommended in women who are breastfeeding their new-born. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on postpartum depression and its symptoms. The Research Question: Can postpartum depression in women be managed with cognitive behavioural therapy? PICO Elements: The population (P) included women with postpartum depression. The intervention (I) was cognitive behavioural therapy. The comparison (C) was no cognitive behavioural therapy. The outcome (O) was reducing postpartum depression. Method: An extensive literature search was carried out using different databases. The criteria for inclusion were peer-reviewed articles written in English, published between 2012 and 2022, and containing the PICO elements chosen for this study. From this search, five studies were chosen (four systematic reviews and one randomised controlled trial). These studies were critically appraised using the CASP Tool. Results and Conclusion: After appraising the five key studies, it was concluded that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an effective type of treatment for postpartum depression and its symptoms. There were several limitations, and the result was not a definite conclusion. Implications and Recommendations: Further research both locally and internationally is recommended to determine whether Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is effective in the longterm, and to see if the results concluded are applicable to Malta. Education to healthcare professionals and more awareness regarding postpartum depression and its treatment are required. It was concluded that guidelines to identify postpartum depression and the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy should be introduced.