Effectiveness of midwife-led brief counseling intervention on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms of women experiencing a traumatic childbirth: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the effectiveness of brief midwife-led counseling based on Gamble and colleagues' approach in decreasing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms among a group of women who had experienced a traumatic childbirth.

METHODS

From among 270 pregnant women screened to participate in the study, 90 women experienced a traumatic childbirth. They were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n = 45) and control group (n = 45). We did a face-to-face counseling session within 72 h after giving birth and a telephone counseling session four to 6 weeks after giving birth for the intervention group. The control group only received the postnatal routine care. The outcome measures were post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

At the three-month follow-up, the intervention group showed significantly higher improvement on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Gamble and colleagues' midwife-led brief counseling could be an effective approach to reduce psychological distress of women who have experienced a traumatic childbirth.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

IRCT201608285417N2, Date of Registration: 2/21/2017.