Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Versus Psychoeducation for Perinatal Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Versus Psychoeducation for Perinatal Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum (perinatal) period is very common and is associated with adverse consequences for mothers and their infants. Currently, medication is the most commonly prescribed treatment for perinatal anxiety and the lack of nonmedication-based interventions for perinatal anxiety is a barrier to receiving effective treatment for many women. As such, the present single-blind, randomized controlled trial seeks to evaluate whether group-based cognitive behavioural therapy, the gold-standard psychological treatment for anxiety disorders in the general population, effectively treats perinatal anxiety symptoms when compared to a psychoeducation group, which is currently the most commonly prescribed non-medication-based treatment for perinatal distress.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Women 18 and older that are pregnant or between 0-12 months postpartum;
2. Principal diagnosis of an anxiety disorder as per the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-5 (version 7.0.2) with or without comorbid depression;
3. No concurrent psychological treatment;
4. Not taking psychoactive medication or a) medications are stable in dose and type for at least 8 weeks prior to the study (as per Canadian psychiatric guidelines; and b) medications remain stable throughout the study;
5. Fluent in English, minimal grade 8 reading level.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe depression/suicidality requiring acute intervention;
2. Women with psychotic or current substance use disorders,
3. medication changes in dose or type or less than 5/6 sessions complete (will continue with treatment but be excluded from the study).