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Telephone-based psychotherapy for postpartum depression effective, convenient

NEW YORK — Telephone-based interpersonal psychotherapy is convenient for those in rural areas and effective in treating postpartum depression, according to Cindy-Lee Dennis, PhD, who presented at the “Technology and Psychiatric Treatment” session here at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

In a randomized controlled trial of 241 mothers, participants were either part of a control group consisting of usual interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), or an intervention group consisting of usual care plus 12 telephone-based IPT sessions provided by nurses.

Dennis, of the University of Toronto, and colleagues measured outcomes at 12, 24 and 36 weeks post-randomization.

 

Cindy-Lee Dennis

In the IPT via telephone group, 94.9% of participants said therapy was convenient, and 97.9% reported that they liked the sessions over the phone. Finally, participants stated that the IPT via telephone intervention met their needs.

“Telephone-based IPT is an effective treatment for clinically depressed mothers; it’s a viable treatment option for those in remote areas and highly trained nurses can deliver IPT effectively … IPT over the telephone was convenient and met [participants’] needs,” Dennis concluded. – by Abigail Sutton

For more information: Dennis CL. Abstract #6353. Presented at: American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; May 3-7, 2014; New York.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.