Michael Rutter Centre, the Maudsley Hospital, London, UK.
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2013 Jan-Feb;58(1):69-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1542-2011.2012.00255.x.
Postpartum depression is a disabling psychological disorder that, if left untreated, may have negative consequences for the mother, her partner, and the child. Although women with postpartum depression often experience symptoms of anxiety as well as depression, this has been underresearched. As metacognitive therapy assumes that the underlying mechanisms for both anxiety and depression are the same, it is a potentially useful psychological treatment for postpartum depression.
A pilot study was carried out using a multiple-baseline single case series to examine the effects associated with metacognitive therapy in the treatment of depression. Six women with postpartum depression were assigned to no-treatment baselines of 3 to 6 weeks, followed by 8 to 12 sessions of metacognitive therapy. Follow-up with participants took place at 3 and 6 months posttreatment.
All participants experienced clinically significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, with corresponding reductions in metacognitive beliefs consistent with the idea that this may be the mechanism by which change occurred. Furthermore, all scores fell within the normal range posttreatment, and effect sizes were large. Treatment gains were maintained at 3 and 6 months posttreatment by all participants.
This pilot study suggests that metacognitive therapy may be an effective psychological treatment for postpartum depression.
产后抑郁症是一种使人丧失能力的心理障碍，如果不加以治疗，可能会对母亲、她的伴侣和孩子产生负面影响。尽管患有产后抑郁症的女性经常同时出现焦虑和抑郁症状，但这方面的研究还很不足。鉴于元认知疗法假定焦虑和抑郁的潜在机制是相同的，因此它可能是一种治疗产后抑郁症的有用的心理疗法。
采用多项基线单病例系列研究进行了一项试点研究，以检验元认知疗法在治疗抑郁症方面的效果。6 名患有产后抑郁症的女性被分配到 3 至 6 周的无治疗基线期，然后进行 8 至 12 次元认知疗法。在治疗后 3 个月和 6 个月对参与者进行随访。
所有参与者的抑郁和焦虑症状均出现明显临床缓解，与治疗中发生变化的理论相一致的是，元认知信念也相应减少。此外，所有评分均在治疗后处于正常范围，且效果量较大。所有参与者在治疗后 3 个月和 6 个月时均保持了治疗效果。
这项试点研究表明，元认知疗法可能是治疗产后抑郁症的一种有效心理疗法。
