Counselling cures postnatal depression, studies reveal

England, January 18: A team of researchers claims to have found a miracle cure to treat post-natal depressiondefine and also prevent it from happening in the future.

It is not any wonder pill but it is the curative and healing power of something called ‘counselling’.

Although anti-depressants prove to be quite effective, psychological therapies are gaining wide acceptance since many women suffering from postnatal depressiondefine show their reluctance to take antidepressants, especially when breastfeeding.

According to the study headed by Jane Morrell of the University of Sheffield, Northern England, seeking the help of professional counsellors can result in reducing the rates of post-pregnancy baby blues by 40 percent.

In what may be regarded as one of the largest trials of postnatal depression, Dr Jane Morrell and his colleagues sought psychological interventions to treat postnatal depression in over 4,000 mothers in England, who consented to take part in the trial. These women received either a cognitive behavioural approach or a person centered approach from specifically trained health visitor or health visitor usual care. All of them were assessed every six months using a questionnaire and followed up for a period of 18 months.

Results showed a significant reduction in the postnatal blues of the mothers who received care from the specifically trained health visitors as compared to those who received health visitor usual care. The investigators revealed that women diagnosed with postnatal depression six weeks after giving birth, who received any form of counselling were 40 percent less likely to suffer from such symptoms six months later

Similarly, in the second trial it was found that support from fellow moms could be effective in reducing the rate of this risky condition by 50 percent at 12 weeks after childbirth. The findings of a University of Toronto nursing study published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) identified 701 pregnant women in Ontario, Canada, who were at high risk of developing postnatal depression.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis, an associate professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Community Health, revealed that a heart-to-heart (telephone-based) chat with a peer, prove to be significantly effective to prevent postnatal depression in high risk women.

“These trials add to the growing evidence that postnatal depression can be effectively treated and possibly prevented,” stated lead researcher Cindy-Lee Dennis of the University of Toronto.

Findings of this study are based on the results of 701 high risk mothers who received standard postnatal care as well as the support of a peer volunteer, who themselves had been the victim of postnatal depression in some stage of their lives. It was seen that mothers seemed to be quite receptive to receive telephonic peer support and 80 percent of them said they were satisfied with the counselling sessions and felt happy to recommend these to their friends.

Nearly 13 percent of women suffer from post baby blues in the year following the birth of their baby. However, it largely remains undetected and hence left untreated due to lack of awareness regarding recognition of symptoms, lesser treatment options and fear of stigmatization.

“They fear being labelled mentally ill, having their children taken away, or being perceived as not fulfilling their maternal role,” she said.

“Women and family members need to be educated about postnatal depression so they can recognize the symptoms. Treatment needs to be convenient and accessible to new mothers,” said Dennis in an accompanying editorial.

Being one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, postnatal depression affects one in eight women around the world and can result in poor cognitive, emotional and social development of the infants and children.

There is a need for a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to identify postnatal depression involving all health professionals who come into contact with new moms including midwives, doctors, nurses and health visitors, felt Dennis.