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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Mar 6;20(1):142.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-020-2826-1.

Effectiveness of midwife-led brief counseling intervention on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms of women experiencing a traumatic childbirth: a randomized controlled trial

Leila Asadzadeh  1 , Elham Jafari  2 , Roghieh Kharaghani  1 , Farhad Taremian  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of midwife-led brief counseling intervention on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms of women experiencing a traumatic childbirth: a randomized controlled trial

Leila Asadzadeh et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the effectiveness of brief midwife-led counseling based on Gamble and colleagues' approach in decreasing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms among a group of women who had experienced a traumatic childbirth.

Methods: From among 270 pregnant women screened to participate in the study, 90 women experienced a traumatic childbirth. They were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n = 45) and control group (n = 45). We did a face-to-face counseling session within 72 h after giving birth and a telephone counseling session four to 6 weeks after giving birth for the intervention group. The control group only received the postnatal routine care. The outcome measures were post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Results: At the three-month follow-up, the intervention group showed significantly higher improvement on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Gamble and colleagues' midwife-led brief counseling could be an effective approach to reduce psychological distress of women who have experienced a traumatic childbirth.

Trial registration number: IRCT201608285417N2, Date of Registration: 2/21/2017.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Iran; Midwife-led brief counseling; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Traumatic childbirth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within 3 years of beginning the work submitted that could inappropriately influence their work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Scores of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 of intervention and control group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Scores of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale of intervention and control group
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Scores of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale of intervention and control group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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