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Online Program

331913
Effectiveness of mind-body therapies on reducing prenatal stress, anxiety, or depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Rizwana Biviji-Sharma, MS, Department of Health Policy, Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
Elinor Hansotte, MPH, Department of Health Policy, Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
Uzay Kirbiyik, MD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
Lisa M. Hess, PhD, Health Outcomes, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN
Background:Changes associated with pregnancy may induce stress, anxiety, and depression, which may lead to poor health outcomes and fetal complications. Low-cost, practical, and natural mind-body interventions may improve maternal wellbeing. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in the literature.

Methods:A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence were conducted to study the efficacy of mind-body therapies on reducing maternal stress, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mind-body therapies, published in English, reporting prenatal maternal stress, anxiety, or depression were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data, and assessed studies for eligibility. For analysis, we calculated the weighted mean difference and standard deviation of continuous outcomes using a random effects model.

Results:We included 18 unique RCTs in the analysis. Preliminary results showed an effect size of -0.160 (p=0.469) for anxiety, effect size of -0.122 (p=0.501) for depression, and effect size of -0.020 (p=0.925) for stress. The low number of studies with relatively small sample sizes was a limiting factor. Quantitative results were missing in some of the studies we reviewed. Heterogeneity was observed across included studies, and there was a wide range of sample sizes and different scales used to study the three outcomes.

Conclusion: Our results failed to show significant effect of mind-body interventions on stress, anxiety, and depression for pregnant women. Additional studies with bigger sample sizes and consistent measurement scales may help determine effectiveness of mind-body interventions.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the effects of mind-body therapies on women’s mental health during pregnancy.

Keyword(s): Prenatal Care, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PhD student at the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public health. My main research interests are local and international maternal and child health interventions and outcomes. This research focuses on evaluation of interventions to improve prenatal outcomes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5010.0: Maternal/Child Health and Health in all Policies Poster Session