2002 International International Biennial Scientific Meeting

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERINATAL MOOD DISORDERS

Mary Williams, Leanne McInnes, Kathy Eadie

Belmont Private Hospital, The Brisbane Centre for Post Natal Disorders

Leanne.McInnes@maynegroup.com

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a structured five-week cognitive behavioural therapy group program for women with perinatal mood disorders. Clinical effectiveness refers to the impact of treatment within routine service delivery conditions. Many maternal treatment groups are focussed on parenting and mother-infant related issues. Though these are addressed, the chief focus of the program is providing psycho-education on the role of cognitions and behaviour in the maintenance of depression and anxiety, training in anxiety management strategies, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, communication and assertion skills, exposure to anxiety arousing situations and time management skills. Individual sessions are available to supplement the group therapy so as to support patients in their attempts to apply the skills learnt in the group. The hypothesis tested in this study was that the five-week cognitive behaviour therapy program will produce significant reductions in depression, anxiety and parenting stress in women with perinatal disorders. Eighty women completed the Parenting Stress Index, Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale, State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Schema Questionnaire on admission to the program and again at discharge. There was a significant improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety and parenting stress. The results will be described in the presentation. The use of cognitive behaviour therapy in a structured group setting effectively ameliorates negative maternal mood and parenting stress. It is not yet known what impact the program may have on relapse prevention. Further research will be conducted to assess patients at six months post discharge.