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Proof of concept: Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy for perinatal depression

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Abstract

Although poor partner support is a key risk factor for depression in pregnant and postpartum women, partners are not generally involved in treatment beyond psychoeducation. The aim of this "proof of concept" study was to test safety, acceptability, and feasibility of Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy (PA-IPT), an intervention that includes the partner as an active participant throughout treatment. Women more than 12 weeks estimated gestational age and less than 12 weeks postpartum were invited to participate if they fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder and reported moderate symptom severity (HAM-D17 ≥16). The open trial included eight acute-phase sessions and a 6-week follow-up assessment. Ten couples completed the acute phase treatment and nine presented for a 6-week follow-up assessment. There were no study-related adverse events, and no women had symptomatic worsening from intake to Session Eight. All partners attended all sessions, no couples dropped out of treatment, and all reported positive treatment satisfaction at the conclusion of the study. Nine of ten women (90 %) met the criteria for clinical response (HAM-D17 = 9) at the conclusion of acute phase treatment, and eight of the nine (89 %) presenting at a 6-week follow-up assessment met criteria for symptomatic recovery. Incorporating partners in the treatment of major depressive disorders during the perinatal period is safe, acceptable, and feasible, but needs further testing in a larger population to evaluate efficacy.

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Acknowledgments

This research received support from Grant Number K23MH085007 (PI: Anna R. Brandon, PhD) from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Brandon also acknowledges support from Grant Number KL2RR024983 (PI: Milton Packer, MD) from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Anna Brandon, PhD, and Linda Hynan, PhD, both received support from Grant Number UL1 RR024982, the North And Central Texas Clinical and Translational Sciences Initiative (PI: Milton Packer, MD) awarded by the NIH. Geetha Shivakumar, MD, acknowledges support from a VISN 17 Research Division New Investigator Award. Robin B. Jarrett, PhD, reports support by Grant Number K24-MH001571 (PI: Robin B. Jarrett, PhD) from the NIMH.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Women’s Mood Disorders Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Anna R. Brandon

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Anna R. Brandon, Nadia Ceccotti, Linda S. Hynan, Geetha Shivakumar, Neysa Johnson & Robin B. Jarrett

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Linda S. Hynan

  4. Dallas VA Medical, Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Geetha Shivakumar

  5. Department of Psychiatry, 10616 Neurosciences Hospital, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7160, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7160, USA

    Anna R. Brandon

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Correspondence to Anna R. Brandon.

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Brandon, A.R., Ceccotti, N., Hynan, L.S. et al. Proof of concept: Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy for perinatal depression. Arch Womens Ment Health 15, 469–480 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0311-1

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