The Effect of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Anxiety, Depression and Stress in Women with Preeclampsia
Published: November 1, 2016 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/21245.8879
Elahe Asghari, Mahbobeh Faramarzi, Arsalan Khan Mohammmadi
1. Student, Department of Psychology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Mazadreran, Iran.
2. Assistant Professor, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute,
Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Mazadreran, Iran.
Correspondence
Dr. Mahbobeh Faramarzi,
Department of Psychology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute,
Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
E-mail: mahbob330@yahoo.com
Introduction: Stress induced by preeclampsia in pregnancy may have a detrimental effect on both the mother and child. Risk of anxiety, depression and stress during pregnancy is, therefore, commonly associated with preeclampsia.
Aim: To determine the effect of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) on anxiety, depression and stress in pregnant women with preeclampsia.
Materials and Methods: In a clinical trial, 60 women with preeclampsia were selected by the convenience sampling method from the Imam-Ali Hospital of Amol city (North of Iran). The subjects were randomly divided into two groups; the study group (n=30) and the control (n=30). All participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a Pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ) at the beginning and end of the study. The intervention group received 12 CBT sessions lasting for 90 minutes over 4 weeks (3 sessions in a week) and the control group received no treatment.
Results: A MANCOVA test showed that CBT significantly reduced the mean scores of anxiety (5.5 ± 3.2 vs. 9.7 ± 3.8) and depression (6.4±2.6 vs 9.3±4.0) in preeclamptic women (F: 19.933, p-value <0.01). In addition, ANCOVA also revealed that CBT significantly improved the mean scores of specific-stress pregnancy (15.9 ± 6.3 vs 22.2 ± 6.8) in women with preeclampsia (F: 10.214, p-value <0.01).
Conclusion: Psychotherapy was effective in reducing anxiety, depression and specific-stress pregnancy in pregnant women with preeclampsia.
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