An Investigation into Perinatal Psychotherapy as a Treatment Option

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An Investigation into Perinatal Psychotherapy as a Treatment Option for First-Time Mothers with Anxiety Disorders in the Antenatal and Postnatal Period.

• IRAS ID

  208795

• Contact name

  Daniel O'Shea

• Contact email

  d.o'shea@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  University of East London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  More than one in ten women develops a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first year of having a baby (London Perinatal Mental Health Network, 2015). It is also widely recognised that the period from conception to twenty four months post-birth (the perinatal period) brings an increased risk of affective or mood disorders, psychotic illness and psychological distress for women (World Health Organisation, 2008). These disorders can threaten the wellbeing of the mother, the parent-baby relationship and outcomes for the baby (e.g. Ross et al, 2006; Gaudet et al, 2010). Research into the effectiveness of psychological interventions for anxiety disorders is recommended within the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines (NICE guidelines [CG192], December 2014).

  The proposed study will take place in the perinatal and parent-infant mental health service department (the perinatal service), based in a London National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust. The perinatal service delivers care to patients who experience psychological disorders which include antenatal and postnatal depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is one model of treatment within the perinatal service that is provided to women who experience maternal anxiety. The study will explore anxiety disorders from a psychoanalytic psychotherapeutic perspective, using clinical data from psychotherapy treatment sessions with first-time mothers. The study will focus on between three and six patients (participants) who attend psychotherapy sessions weekly or fortnightly for a period of up to one year.

  The study will explore factors that trigger anxiety disorders in first time mothers and the impact that maternal anxiety can have on mothers’ perceived abilities to fulfil their maternal role. The study will question how and to what extent can psychoanalytic psychotherapy help alleviate maternal anxiety?

• REC name

  London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/LO/1809

• Date of REC Opinion

  3 Nov 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion