Study of a Psychoeducational Program to Prevent Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in New Mothers

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the culturally adapted Catalan and Spanish versions of the What Were We Thinking WWWT psychoeducational intervention in preventing and reducing postpartum mental illness in new mothers. This randomized study compares the standard postnatal care Usual Care with the usual care plus two WWWT sessions to see if the intervention better prevents postpartum depression and anxiety disorders. The trial also assesses how acceptable and accessible the intervention is to families and healthcare professionals. Participants are assigned to either receive the usual postpartum care provided by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Service ASSIR or the usual care plus two structured WWWT psychoeducational sessions within the first six weeks after giving birth. The WWWT program is designed for small groups of 5-7 families and includes mothers, partners or other caregivers, and infants. Each session lasts two hours and focuses on promoting confident parenting, improving partner relationships, and managing infant care. During the study, participants complete baseline questionnaires between two and four weeks postpartum. Follow-up assessments, including the same questionnaires and a semi-structured interview to diagnose major mental disorders, take place at three and six months postpartum. Additionally, those in the intervention group complete a brief anonymous satisfaction survey after the WWWT sessions. Researchers measure mental disorders, depressive and anxiety symptoms, maternal bonding, parenting self-regulation, and marital adjustment throughout the study period.

Implementation of a Psychoeducational Intervention in New Mothers