Effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Chuntana Reangsing, Sasinun Punsuwun, Sarah Oerther
Journal of affective disorders May 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.049 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 1,480 pregnant women found that mindfulness-based interventions reduced depression compared to control groups, with a moderate effect size (g = 0.457). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy showed a larger effect (g = 1.13) than mindfulness-based stress reduction (g = 0.64) or adapted interventions (g = 0.31). The findings suggest these programs, especially MBCT, are effective complementary treatments for depression during pregnancy.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,480 |
| Population | Pregnant women |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based interventions Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based interventions Pregnant women Meta-analysis |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduced depression in pregnant women, with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy showing the largest effect. |
Abstract
We synthesized the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression in pregnant women. Ten electronic databases were searched from inception to September 2022. We reviewed studies on outcomes for pregnant women with depression receiving mindfulness-based interventions. 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. 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 to control groups (g = 0.457, 95%CI 0.254, 0.659, I2 = 68 %). With subgroup analysis, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had a greater effect on reducing depressive symptoms (g = 1.13) than mindfulness-based stress reduction (g = 0.64) and adapted mindfulness-based interventions (g = 0.31). No quality indicators moderated the ES of mindfulness-based interventions on depression. Mindfulness-based interventions significantly improved depression among pregnant women, especially mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Clinicians and health providers should consider using MBIs as alternative complementary treatment for improving and preventing depression in pregnant women.