Testing a 4-Week Mindfulness Program for Anxiety Disorders in Mothers During the First Year After Giving Birth

What this Trial Is About

Postpartum anxiety PPA affects up to 20% of mothers in the first year after delivery, causing both psychological and physical symptoms. Current treatments improve some psychological aspects like anxiety and mood but often do not help with emotion regulation ER or bodily awareness, which are important for those with PPA. This research aims to test a mindfulness intervention designed to improve anxiety symptoms, ER, and bodily awareness in postpartum mothers with anxiety disorders, using both self-reports and brain imaging for a thorough evaluation. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a 4-week mindfulness-based intervention or be placed on a waitlist receiving usual care. The mindfulness program is tailored specifically for postpartum mothers with clinical anxiety, adapted from established cognitive therapy methods to address anxiety during the postpartum period. The intervention focuses on both psychological and physical symptoms, with brain imaging done before and immediately after the intervention. Participants will complete self-report questionnaires at enrollment, immediately post-intervention, and again 4 weeks later to measure anxiety, emotion regulation, worry, depression, quality of life, stress, bodily awareness, mindfulness, bonding, social support, and relationship adjustment. Brain scans fMRI will be conducted at enrollment and right after the 4-week intervention. This comprehensive monitoring will help researchers understand how the mindfulness program affects anxiety and related symptoms over time.

Psychological and Physiological Impact of a Mindfulness-based Intervention on Anxiety Disorders During the Postpartum Period