Can psychological interventions prevent or reduce risk for perinatal anxiety disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether interventions, including mindfulness, could prevent or reduce perinatal anxiety symptoms in individuals without an anxiety disorder diagnosis.
Results Summary
Mindfulness interventions (n=6) were found to be effective in reducing perinatal anxiety symptom severity, with a small standardized mean difference favoring the intervention group. Psychological interventions, including mindfulness, showed promise, though interventions specifically targeting anxiety were noted as needed.
Population
Perinatal individuals without an anxiety disorder diagnosis.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
interventions | no change | incidence of perinatal anxiety disorder | perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis | no significant effect | found no significant effect | #1 |
interventions | decrease | anxiety symptom severity | perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis | -0.31 (95% CI [-0.46, -0.16], p < .001) | suggested a small standardized mean difference | #2 |
mindfulness | decrease | anxiety symptom severity | perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis | - | were effective | #3 |
cognitive behavioral therapy approaches | decrease | anxiety symptom severity | perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis | - | were effective | #4 |
interventions developed for perinatal anxiety | decrease | anxiety symptom severity | perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis | - | were more effective | #5 |
psychological interventions | decrease | perinatal anxiety symptom severity | perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis | - | show promise for reducing | #6 |
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the extent to which interventions can prevent perinatal anxiety disorders. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether interventions can decrease the onset and symptoms of perinatal anxiety among individuals without an anxiety disorder diagnosis. METHOD: We conducted a comprehensive literature search across five databases related to key concepts: (1) anxiety disorders/anxiety symptom severity (2) perinatal (3) interventions (4) prevention. We included studies that examined a perinatal population without an anxiety disorder diagnosis, included a comparator group, and assessed perinatal anxiety. We included interventions focused on perinatal anxiety as well as interventions to prevent perinatal depression or influence related outcomes (e.g., physical activity). RESULTS: Thirty-six studies were included. No study assessing the incidence of perinatal anxiety disorder (n = 4) found a significant effect of an intervention. Among studies assessing anxiety symptom severity and included in the quantitative analysis (n = 30), a meta-analysis suggested a small standardized mean difference of -0.31 (95% CI [-0.46, -0.16], p < .001) for anxiety at post intervention, favoring the intervention group. Both mindfulness (n = 6), and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches (n = 10) were effective. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions developed for perinatal anxiety were more effective than interventions to prevent perinatal depression. Psychological interventions show promise for reducing perinatal anxiety symptom severity, though interventions specifically targeting anxiety are needed.