The Effect of Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy on Depression and Anxiety among Pregnant Women: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Reza Yazdanimehr, A. Omidi, Z. Sadat, Hossein Akbari
Journal of Caring Sciences August 31, 2016 DOI: 10.15171/jcs.2016.021 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 80 |
| Population | Pregnant women |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy |
| Measures | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Pregnant women who received mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy alongside routine prenatal care showed significantly lower mean depression and anxiety scores than those receiving routine prenatal care alone. The authors conclude the therapy can alleviate depression and anxiety in pregnancy and recommend incorporating it into prenatal care. |
Abstract
Introduction: Pregnancy can be associated with different psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. These problems are often neglected and left untreated. This study aimed to examine the effect of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on depression and anxiety among pregnant women.
Methods: A convenient sample of 80 pregnant women were selected. Participants were randomly allocated to either the experimental or the control groups. Participants in the experimental group received mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy while women in the control group only received routine prenatal care services. A demographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics measures such as frequency, mean, and standard deviation as well as the repeated-measures analysis of variance test were used for data analysis.
Results: After the study intervention, the mean scores of anxiety and depression in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group.
Conclusion: Mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy can significantly alleviate pregnant women’s depression and anxiety. So implementation of this method alongside with other prenatal care services is recommended.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 23
- Co-emergence Reinforcement and Its Relevance to Interoceptive Desensitization in Mindfulness and Therapies Aiming at Transdiagnostic Efficacy Frontiers in Psychology December 22, 2020
- Differentiating mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy clinically: the why, how, and what of evidence-based practice. Frontiers in Psychology 2024
- The Role of Mindfulness and Self Compassion toward Depression among Pregnant Women International Journal of Public Health Science September 2, 2018
- Mindfulness based interventions for depression and anxiety in Asian Population: A systematic review Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal June 28, 2018
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Depressive Symptoms and Their Relationship to Interoceptive Awareness: A Systematic Review. Alpha psychiatry December 1, 2025
and 18 more in the library
Cites 5
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- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Perinatal Women with Depression or Bipolar Spectrum Disorder. Cognitive Therapy and Research October 2015
- Stress reduction correlates with structural changes in the amygdala. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience March 1, 2010
- Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education: Promoting Family Mindfulness During the Perinatal Period. Journal of Child and Family Studies October 10, 2009