Effectiveness of antenatal emotional self-management training program in prevention of postnatal depression in Chinese women.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to study the effectiveness of an emotional self-management training program to antenatal women in the prevention of postnatal depression.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample comprised 240 women who were at 32 weeks antenatal. They were randomly assigned into the intervention group and the control group.

FINDINGS

On completion of the program, the intervention group reported significantly lower mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores than the control group. Fewer participants from the intervention group were diagnosed as having postnatal depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

An antenatal emotional self-management training that may lower the risk of developing postnatal depression among Chinese women is recommended.