Psychological interventions for reducing anxiety in the perinatal period Original paper

Trials that investigated the effect of psychological interventions — such as mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — on anxiety in women during the perinatal period (during pregnancy and up to 1 year after giving birth) have produced mixed results. What does the totality of the available evidence say?

This meta-analysis of 22 trials (17 randomized controlled trials and 5 quasi-randomized/nonrandomized controlled trials) examined the effect of psychological interventions on anxiety in women with anxiety during the perinatal period. The secondary outcome was symptoms of depression.

The vast majority of trials were conducted during pregnancy. The most commonly used psychological interventions were MBIs or CBT. The number of therapeutic sessions ranged from 2 to 14.

Psychological interventions reduced anxiety (large effect size) and symptoms of depression (large effect size).

In influence analyses in which the researchers excluded outlier trials, the beneficial effects of psychological interventions on anxiety and symptoms of depression remained statistically significant but were reduced to moderate and small effect sizes, respectively.