Citation

Bledsoe SE, Wike T, Killian-Farrell C, Lombardi B, Rizo C, Bellows AMO, Sommers AR, Sheely AL. Soc. Work Ment. Health 2018; 16(3): 252-265.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15332985.2017.1382429

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current study examines a pilot study testing the feasibility of treating antenatal depression in public health clinics serving low-income adolescents using adapted brief interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in pregnant adolescents (IPT-BPA). This research addresses the disproportionate incidence of antenatal depression and its associated negative outcomes, including postpartum depression, among low-income adolescent mothers. Participants (N = 14) were recruited from two county-based public prenatal care clinics. Eligible participants were pregnant adolescents with major depression. Participants received nine sessions of IPT-BPA. Depressive symptoms were measured pre-and post-treatment. Differences were examined using paired t-tests. Most (81%) referred adolescents completed screening, and 73% met eligibility criteria. Of 16 eligible adolescents, 14 (87.5%) consented to participation, and 13 (93%) completed IPT-BPA. Participants who completed IPT-BPA experienced significant decreases in depression. The successful recruitment and retention of pregnant, depressed adolescents combined with significant, positive post-treatment changes in depression support the feasibility of treating adolescent perinatal depression in public health clinics using IPT-BPA.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescence; depression; interpersonal psychotherapy; maternal; mental health; pregnancy