Postpartum depression in women receiving public assistance: Pilot study ofan interpersonal-therapy-oriented group intervention

Objective: This study investigated whether a preventive intervention based on the principles of interpersonal psychotherapy administered to pregnant w omen would reduce the risk of postpartum major depression. Method: Thirty-seven pregnant women receiving public assistance who had at least one risk factor for postpartum depression were randomly assigned to a four-session group intervention or to a treatment-as-usual condition. Thir ty-five of the women completed the study. Structured diagnostic interviews were administered to assess for postpartum major depression. Results: Within 3 months after they gave birth, six (33%) of the 18 women i n the treatment-as-usual condition had developed postpartum major depressio n, compared with none of the 17 women in the intervention condition. Conclusions: A four-session interpersonal-therapy-oriented group interventi on was successful in preventing the occurrence of major depression during a postpartum period of 3 months in a group of financially disadvantaged wome n.