Stronger Together: Antenatal Depressive Symptoms - Prevalence and Digital Treatment

Stronger Together: Antenatal Depressive Symptoms - Prevalence and Digital Treatment

The main objective of the current research project is to evaluate the usability, satisfaction of the antenatal iCBT program including telephone coaching for antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms and collect nationally representative data on population-based screening of antenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms. The overarching hypothesis is that iCBT, with easy access and affordability, is user friendly and well accepted. In addition to examining the treatment response by questionnaires, we will study the infant development comprehensively as well as potential physiological changes associated with antenatal depression or its treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• fluent in written and spoken Finnish or Swedish
• access to computer or mobile phone with internet
• between 12 and 22 weeks pregnant
• screening and baseline score on the EPDS ≥10 points

Exclusion Criteria:

• lifetime history of psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic depression)
• active suicidal ideation
• severe substance abuse or dependence
• participates in another intervention study aiming at treating the symptoms of antenatal depression