Effects of mindfulness based interventions on depression in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta analysis

Title: Effects of mindfulness based interventions on depression in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta analysis

Abstract:

Objective: We synthesized the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression in pregnant women.

Method: Ten electronic databases were searched from inception to September 2022. We reviewed studies with pregnant women receiving mindfulness-based interventions with depression outcomes. We only reviewed studies written in English. A random-effects model was used to compute the effect size. Funnel plot, Q statistics, and I² were used to test the heterogeneity across studies. We examined moderators to explore sources of heterogeneity.

Results: Across 19 included studies (N=1480), 717 pregnant women participated in mindfulness interventions; 763 served as controls. Mean age ranged from 25.3 to 33.6 years. Overall, mindfulness-based interventions showed reduced depression compared control groups (g=.457, 95%CI .254, .659, I²=68%). With subgroup analysis, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had a greater effect on a reducing depressive symptom (g=1.13) than mindfulness-based stress reduction (g=.64) and adapted mindfulness-based intervention (g=.31). No quality indicators moderated the ES of mindfulness-based interventions on depression.

Conclusion: Mindfulness-based interventions significantly improved depression among pregnant women Clinicians and health providers should consider using MBIs as alternative complementary treatment for improving and preventing depression in pregnant women.

Keywords:
Mindfulness-based intervention, pregnant women, depression, meta-analysis.

Audience Take Away:

• Antidepressants and psychotherapy interventions are effective treatments for depression, but approximately 40% of depressed women with pregnancy do not receive treatment due to a lack of mental health professionals and barriers.
• Alternative and complementary treatments such as mindfulness-based interventions are growing.
• Researchers have meta-analyzed the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on depression in the adult population but no prior researchers specifically meta-analyzed the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on depression in pregnant women.
• Mindfulness-based intervention had a moderate effect on improving depressive symptoms in pregnant women.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had a greater effect on reducing depressive symptoms than mindfulness-based stress reduction and adapted mindfulness-based intervention.

Biography:

Chuntana Reangsing obtained a Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2003. She worked as registered nurse at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand for 5 years. She then received a Master of Science (Mental Health) from School of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in 2008. Also, she got a certificate in Nursing Specialty in Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health in 2011 and Ph.D. program in 2020. She has been teaching nursing for 14 years, with specialty field in psychiatric nursing and mental health. Ms. Reangsing was inducted into Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society in 2016, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing in 2017. Also, she was nominated as an emerging leader of promoting mental health in 2017, Graduated Nursing Student Academy, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Currently, she is an assistant professor in Mental Health and Psychiatry at School of Nursing, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand. She has several years of research experience as a specialist nurse, in mental health and psychiatric nursing. Her research of interest is mental health promotion and mindfulness.