Randomized controlled trial to prevent postpartum depression in adolescent mothers.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of an interpersonally oriented intervention on the reduction of the risk of postpartum depression in primiparous adolescents.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 106 pregnant primiparous adolescents who were ≤17 years old at their first prenatal visit. Participants were assigned randomly to the intervention program (n = 54) or the attention and dose-matched control program (n = 52). Each program included 5 sessions that were delivered during the prenatal period. A structured diagnostic interview was administered to assess for the primary outcome and depression at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after delivery.

RESULTS

Participants included Hispanic (53%), non-Hispanic black (17%), and non-Hispanic white (16%) adolescents. The overall rate of depression in the intervention group (12.5%) was lower than the control group (25%) with a hazard rate ratio of 0.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.17-1.15) at 6 months after delivery.

CONCLUSION

An intervention that is delivered during the prenatal period has the potential to reduce the risk for postpartum depression in primiparous adolescent mothers.