“Treating prenatal depression with mental health counselling appears to be effective in reducing the risk of preterm delivery associated with prenatal depression,” told Dr De-Kun Li who is a research scientist at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute at Kaiser Permanente.
“We note that this is the first study to evaluate this treatment effectiveness with mental health counseling and confirmation of these findings is needed. It is important that these findings be considered alongside the risks associated with depression relapse.”
Dr De-Ku Li and his colleagues conducted a large study using Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s data of 82,170 pregnant women who delivered births between 2014 and 2017. Researchers found prenatal depression status by clinical diagnosis and classified them by their treatment either antidepressants or mental health counselling using the electronic health record system. Twelve percent of women had clinically diagnosed prenatal depression.
Pregnant women with untreated depression had 41% increased risk of preterm delivery. Compare to this untreated depression, mental health counselling showed an 18% of reduced risk of preterm delivery. The increased number 4 or more of counselling visits is also indicated with a greater reduction in preterm delivery risk with 43%. In comparison, use of antidepressants during pregnancy indicated 31% increased risk of preterm delivery separately from the problem of underlying depression. The study also stated that the longer duration of use of antidepressants indicated even higher risk.
This study shows effectiveness of 2 common treatment options for prenatal depression with the subject of preterm delivery risk. It also indicates that mental health counselling is more effective and less riskier than antidepressants as it add additional risk of preterm delivery. The research was done to provide data and understanding for clinicians and pregnant women to be informed on evidence-based treatment decisions that has to be considered for the good health of both maternal and fetal health.