Perinatal studies

PAN-COVID - Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19: The PAN-COVID study Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19

ADAGIO – a feasibility study of a randomised control trial of Interpersonal Counselling compared to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Up to one in eight women experience depression during pregnancy. In the UK, low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the main psychological treatment offered for those with mild or moderate depression and is recommended during the perinatal period, however referral by midwives and take up of treatment by pregnant women is extremely low. Interpersonal Counselling (IPC) is a brief, low-intensity form of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) that focuses on areas of concern to service users during pregnancy. This was a feasibility study and was not large enough to detect important differences between IPC and perinatal specific CBT. A full-scale trial of IPC for antenatal depression in routine IAPT services is feasible. Read the full article here. 

ESMI2 - Community perinatal mental health teams and associations with perinatal mental health and obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with a history of secondary mental health care in England: a national population-based cohort study

Women with a pre-existing severe mental disorder have an increased risk of relapse after giving birth. We aimed to evaluate associations of the gradual regional implementation of community perinatal mental health teams in England from April, 2016, with access to mental health care and with mental health, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes. 

Interpretation of results: The regional availability of community perinatal mental health teams reduced the postnatal risk of acute relapse and increased the overall use of secondary mental health care. Community perinatal mental health teams should have close links with maternity services to avoid intensive psychiatric support overshadowing obstetric and neonatal risks.

Read the full study

• The Lancet Psychiatry full article
• University of Exeter: Community perinatal mental health teams reduce risk of mental health relapse after childbirth
• This study was sponsored by DPT and conducted at its sites.