The Effect of Counselling on Depression and Anxiety of Women with Unplanned Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 Iranian pregnant women with unplanned pregnancy. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group received one to three sessions of individual counseling and six sessions of group counseling each week in six consecutive weeks, and the control group received routine care. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were completed by the participants before and 4 weeks after the intervention. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, and the baseline depression and anxiety scores (P > 0.05). The depression and anxiety scales were completed before and 4 weeks after the intervention. The mean scores of depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety were significantly lower in the counseling group than in the control group 4 weeks after the end of intervention. It is recommended that counseling should be provided for women with unplanned pregnancy.

Keywords: Anxiety; Counseling; Depressions; Maternal–Fetal Relations; Unintended Pregnancy.