US researchers analyzed the results of various studies to discover which is the most effective therapy to treat depression during or after pregnancy in women.
MADRID, Nov. 4 (EUROPA PRESS) – The depression perinatal o postpartum —the one that appears during the pregnancy or after him part—affects millions of women every year, but it is not always treated in time. Now, an extensive scientific review confirms that certain therapies psychological can make a difference in your recovery, helping mothers to recover emotional well-being without depending only on medication.
The therapy that works best for perinatal depression
A systematic review and meta-analysis of researchers hired by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQfor its acronym in English), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOGfor its acronym in English) States United (EU) evaluated the effectiveness of psychological therapies for perinatal depression, the most common maternal mental health disorder.
The review found that cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation and interpersonal therapy may be more effective in treating perinatal depression than usual care. The results of the review will be used to inform the development of clinical practice guidelines related to the treatment of perinatal depression. The review is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers analyzed 44 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological therapies for people with depression during pregnancy and up to a year after childbirth, published between January 2000 and March 2025. The main results were the effect of psychological treatments on depressive symptoms and recovery from these symptoms. The most studied interventions included cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).
What does the meta-analysis show?
The review found that CBT was probably more effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety during or after pregnancy than treatment as usual, and that there may have been higher rates of recovery with CBT compared to treatment as usual.
Behavioral activation may be more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than treatment as usual. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) was probably moderately effective in reducing depressive symptoms compared with treatment as usual, and recovery rates may be increased with IPT.
In general, CBT, behavioral activation, and IPT may be more effective in treating perinatal depression than usual care. However, the researchers note that the studies included in the review primarily involved white participants with a higher level of education, so the results may not be applicable to a broader population.