Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on maternal perinatal mental health outcomes

Health Evidence™ hosted a 60 minute webinar examining the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on maternal perinatal mental health outcomes. Click here to access the slides: http://ow.ly/no9r30hT568

Dr. Angus MacBeth, CPsychol, AFBPsS, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Honorary Principal Clinical Psychologist, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, The University of Edinburgh led the session and presented findings from their recent systematic review:

Shi Z, & MacBeth A. (2017). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on maternal perinatal mental health outcomes: A systematic review. Mindfulness, 8(4), 823–847.

Estimates suggest that at least 10% of pregnant women experience perinatal anxiety, 20% suffer prenatal depression and between 12 and 16% are likely to suffer postnatal depression. This review examines the effectiveness of MBIs in reducing the severity of perinatal anxiety and depression. Seven randomized control trials, 2 non-randomized control trials, and 9 treatment evaluations with 640 participants were included in this review. Maternal participation in an MBI was associated with reductions in perinatal anxiety of moderate to large magnitude. Results for the effect of MBIs on depression were less consistent, with pre-post treatment reductions of moderate magnitude, but no significant differences in depression scores when MBI was compared with a control group. There was some evidence that MBIs were associated with increased mindfulness.