FRIDAY, Nov. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A multi-component intervention may significantly benefit depressed, low-income mothers with newborn children who live in resource-poor countries, according to a report published in the Nov. 10 issue of The Lancet.
Graciela Rojas, M.D., of Universidad de Chile in Santiago, and colleagues randomly assigned 230 low-income mothers with major depression to receive either a multi-component intervention consisting of a psycho-educational group, treatment adherence support, and pharmacotherapy if needed, or usual care consisting of standard clinical care including antidepressant drugs, brief psychotherapeutic interventions, medical consultations, or external referral for specialty treatment.
Of the 208 women who completed the assessments, the researchers found that crude mean Edinburgh postnatal depression scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the usual care group at three months (8.5 versus 12.8), and at six months (10.9 versus 12.5).
"Since so many health programs in developing countries are focused around the perinatal period, this study provides a great opportunity to find ways of improving the recognition and treatment of postnatal depression and reducing its adverse effect on women and on their children," the authors conclude.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial
