A brief group intervention using a cognitive-behavioural approach to reduce postnatal depressive symptoms: a randomised controlled trial
SSK Leung1, AM Lee2, DFK Wong3, CM Wong4, KY Leung5, VCL Chiang6, WK Yung7, SWC Chan8, KF Chung2
1 Institute of Professional Education, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital
2 Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong
3 Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The City University of Hong Kong
4 Department of Community Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
5 Department of Obstetric & Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
6 School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
7 Department of Obstetric & Gynaecology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong
8 Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore
 
 
Key Messages
1. Postnatal women preferred psychotherapy to pharmacotherapy for reduction of postnatal depression.
2. A brief, cognitive-behavioural, group intervention with 6 weekly sessions significantly reduced depressive symptoms and was well received by postnatal women.
3. This brief group intervention could be further tested as an integral part of postnatal care to complement existing services and reduce waiting time.