Supportive counseling delivered by public health nurses to treat postpartum depression in women

Background: Postpartum depression is a common condition following childbirth which often remains undiagnosed and untreated. Psychological intervention is a treatment alternative and may prevent longer-term postpartum depression. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of supportive counseling by public health nurses on postpartum depression. Methods: The study was designed as an intervention study. The study population included postpartum women, residing in two municipalities in Norway, who had delivered between June 2005 and December 2006. A total of 228 women participated in the study: 64 in the comparison municipality and 164 in the experimental municipality. Public health nurses (26) in the experimental municipality were trained in identifying postpartum depression and in providing supportive counseling. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered 6 weeks postpartum (pre-test), and 3, 6 and 12 months post partum (post-test). The EPDS score at 3, 6 and 12 months were analyzed using multiple regressions with four independent variables: age, parity, group, and EPDS pre-test score. Results: The municipalities did not differ significantly on social and economic parameters. The depression score decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the comparison group, at 3 months (p<0.01, effect size 0.56), at 6 months (p<0.01, effect size 0.51), and at 12 months post partum (p<0.01, effect size 0.53). Conclusion: Supportive counseling sessions provided by public health nurses resulted in a significant difference in the depression score between the groups and may be useful for managing postpartum depression.