A randomised controlled trial of ‘MUMentum postnatal’: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression in postpartum women

Abstract

Maternal anxiety and depression is common during the first 12 months after childbirth (i.e., postpartum period), with 10–15% of mothers likely to meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD; Dennis, Falah-Hassani, & Shiri, 2017; Woody, Ferrari, Siskind, Whiteford, & Harris, 2017). If left untreated, anxiety and depression adversely affect both the mother and infant (e.g., reduced maternal self-care, poor childhood emotional and behavioural development; Stein et al., 2014). Despite the deleterious effects of postpartum mental health problems, effective treatments exist.