Feasibility of treating depression in pregnant adolescents using brief interpersonal psychotherapy

ABSTRACT

The current study examines a pilot study testing the feasibility of treating antenatal depression in public health clinics serving low-income adolescents using adapted brief interpersonal psychotherapy for depression in pregnant adolescents (IPT-BPA). This research addresses the disproportionate incidence of antenatal depression and its associated negative outcomes, including postpartum depression, among low-income adolescent mothers. Participants (N = 14) were recruited from two county-based public prenatal care clinics. Eligible participants were pregnant adolescents with major depression. Participants received nine sessions of IPT-BPA. Depressive symptoms were measured pre-and post-treatment. Differences were examined using paired t-tests. Most (81%) referred adolescents completed screening, and 73% met eligibility criteria. Of 16 eligible adolescents, 14 (87.5%) consented to participation, and 13 (93%) completed IPT-BPA . Participants who completed IPT-BPA experienced significant decreases in depression. The successful recruitment and retention of pregnant, depressed adolescents combined with significant, positive post-treatment changes in depression support the feasibility of treating adolescent perinatal depression in public health clinics using IPT-BPA.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescence
• depression
• interpersonal psychotherapy
• maternal
• mental health
• pregnancy

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [K12-HD001441, NIH-2674]; University Research Council, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [Research Grant]; School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [Armfield-Reeves Innovation Fund, Jane H. Pfouts Research Grant]; Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [Junior Faculty Development Award]; University of North Carolina Program on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health Outcomes [ECHO Pilot Grant in Racial/Ethnic Health Disparity].