Proof of concept: Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy for perinatal depression

Although poor partner support is a key risk factor for depression in pregnant and postpartum women, partners are not generally involved in treatment beyond psychoeducation. The aim of this "proof of concept" study was to test safety, acceptability, and feasibility of Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy (PA-IPT), an intervention that includes the partner as an active participant throughout treatment. Women more than 12 weeks estimated gestational age and less than 12 weeks postpartum were invited to participate if they fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder and reported moderate symptom severity (HAM-D17 ≥16). The open trial included eight acute-phase sessions and a 6-week follow-up assessment. Ten couples completed the acute phase treatment and nine presented for a 6-week follow-up assessment. There were no study-related adverse events, and no women had symptomatic worsening from intake to Session Eight. All partners attended all sessions, no couples dropped out of treatment, and all reported positive treatment satisfaction at the conclusion of the study. Nine of ten women (90 %) met the criteria for clinical response (HAM-D17=9) at the conclusion of acute phase treatment, and eight of the nine (89 %) presenting at a 6-week follow-up assessment met criteria for symptomatic recovery. Incorporating partners in the treatment of major depressive disorders during the perinatal period is safe, acceptable, and feasible, but needs further testing in a larger population to evaluate efficacy

Exploring Partner-Assisted Therapy (PAT) for Perinatal Depression: Are Partner Support and Non-Verbal Communications Associated with Women’s Treatment Response?

BACKGROUND: Poor partner support is a risk factor for perinatal depression, a disease with adverse consequences for mother, baby, and partner. This pilot study explored changes in partner verbal/non-verbal supportive behaviors, including overt displays of emotional expression, during interactions between romantic partners and depressed perinatal women participating in Partner-Assisted Therapy (PAT). A novel approach for perinatal depression currently under investigation, PAT includes the partner of a depressed woman as an active participant in her treatment over eight acute sessions and one follow-up. This is the first study to date that investigates psychotherapeutic processes by analyzing the spontaneous display of support and positive affect in romantic partners during their engagement in psychotherapy sessions. METHODS: Eleven couples (females between ≥ 8 weeks pregnant and ≤ 12 weeks postpartum, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder) attended eight weekly psychotherapy sessions along with their partners. Two raters coded video recordings from sessions one, four and eight (acute phase). Partner support (positive helping behaviors) was coded using the Social Support Interaction Coding System, marital affect was coded using the Specific Affect Coding System, and warm touch by the male partner to his depressed spouse was recorded by frequency and duration of time. The associations between partner support and the change in the female partner's symptoms of depression were then investigated. RESULTS: Our hypothesis of the inverse correlation between partner support (an increase over time) and treatment outcome was partially supported. The hypotheses that warm touch and positive marital affect would increase over time were not supported in this sample. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that an increase in partner support over time in treatment is partially associated with a decrease in female depressive symptoms. Future investigations with larger samples would support more confident interpretations and allow meaningful explorations into the processes of partner support and their implication for perinatal depression

Proof of concept: Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy for perinatal depression

Although poor partner support is a key risk factor for depression in pregnant and postpartum women, partners are not generally involved in treatment beyond psychoeducation. The aim of this "proof of concept" study was to test safety, acceptability, and feasibility of Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy (PA-IPT), an intervention that includes the partner as an active participant throughout treatment. Women more than 12 weeks estimated gestational age and less than 12 weeks postpartum were invited to participate if they fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder and reported moderate symptom severity (HAM-D(17) ≥16). The open trial included eight acute-phase sessions and a 6-week follow-up assessment. Ten couples completed the acute phase treatment and nine presented for a 6-week follow-up assessment. There were no study-related adverse events, and no women had symptomatic worsening from intake to Session Eight. All partners attended all sessions, no couples dropped out of treatment, and all reported positive treatment satisfaction at the conclusion of the study. Nine of ten women (90 %) met the criteria for clinical response (HAM-D(17)=9) at the conclusion of acute phase treatment, and eight of the nine (89 %) presenting at a 6-week follow-up assessment met criteria for symptomatic recovery. Incorporating partners in the treatment of major depressive disorders during the perinatal period is safe, acceptable, and feasible, but needs further testing in a larger population to evaluate efficacy