SEARCHSYSTEMATIC_REVIEWpsychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology

systematic_review·psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, systematic review, clinical trial·PMC10148488

Mental health-related telemedicine interventions for pregnant women and new mothers: a systematic literature review

BMC Psychiatry · 6 authors, 3 centres

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TL;DR

This systematic review of 44 randomized controlled trials found that telemedicine interventions (such as internet-delivered CBT and peer support) significantly improved mental health outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers in 62% of the included studies, with particular success for depression and stress.

Full summary

993 CHARS

A systematic literature review analyzed 44 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating telemedicine interventions for pregnant women and new mothers, focusing on mental health outcomes like depression, anxiety, and stress. The methods involved searching multiple databases and screening according to PRISMA guidelines. The central result was that a majority (62%) of included studies reported significantly improved mental health outcomes for participants receiving telemedicine interventions compared to controls, with internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy being successful for depression and stress, and peer support improving postnatal depression and anxiety. Limitations include the inability to assess clinical relevance from statistical significance alone and the heterogeneity of interventions. The implications suggest telemedicine can be effective but must be specifically designed for targeted mental health issues, with further research needed, especially for anxiety.

STUDY TYPE

systematic_review

SPECIALTY

psychiatry

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AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10148488

Mental health-related telemedicine interventions for pregnant women and new mothers: a systematic literature review

BMC Psychiatry

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Background Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times when women are at increased risk for depression and mental problems. This may also negatively affect the foetus. Thus, there is a need for interventions with low-threshold access and care. Telemedicine interventions are a promising approach to address these issues. This systematic literature review examined the efficacy of telemedicine interventions for pregnant women and/or new mothers to address mental health-related outcomes. The primary objective was to analyse whether telemedicine interventions can reduce mental health problems in pregnant women and new mothers. The secondary aim was to clarify the impact of type of interventions, their frequency and their targets. Methods Inclusion criteria: randomized controlled trials, with participants being pregnant women and/or new mothers (with infants up to twelve months), involving telemedicine interventions of any kind (e.g. websites, apps, chats, telephone), and addressing any mental health-related outcomes like depression, postnatal depression, anxiety, stress and others. Search terms were pregnant women, new mothers, telemedicine, RCT (randomised controlled trials), mental stress as well as numerous synonyms including medical subject headings. The literature search was conducted within the databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Screening, inclusion of records and data extraction were performed by two researchers according to the PRISMA guidelines, using the online tool CADIMA. Results Forty four articles were included. A majority (62%) reported significantly improved mental health-related outcomes for participants receiving telemedicine interventions compared to control. In particular (internet-delivered) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was successful for depression and stress, and peer support improved outcomes for postnatal depression and anxiety. Interventions with preventive approaches and interventions aimed at symptom reduction were largely successful. For the most part there was no significant improvement in the symptoms of anxiety. Conclusion Telemedicine interventions evaluated within RCTs were mostly successful. However, they need to be designed to specifically target a certain mental health issue because there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Further research should focus on which specific interventions are appropriate for which mental health outcomes in terms of intervention delivery modes, content, target approaches, etc. Further investigation is needed, in particular with regard to anxiety. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-023-04790-0. Keywords: “Telemedicine, “Telepsychiatry, “eHealth, “Pregnant women, “Pregnancy, “Postpartum period, “Psychiatry, “Mental health, “Mental strain, “Mental stress, “Mental problems

CITATION EXPORT

Ulrike Stentzel, Hans J Grabe, Silke Schmidt et al.. Mental health-related telemedicine interventions for pregnant women and new mothers: a systematic literature review. BMC Psychiatry. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04790-0

AUTHORS

6 · 3 CENTRES

Ulrike Stentzel, Hans J Grabe, Silke Schmidt, Samuel Tomczyk, Neeltje van den Berg, Angelika Beyer

1Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
2Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
3Department Health and Prevention, Institute of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany