New USPTF Guidelines on Prevention of Perinatal Depression

The US Prevention Task Force has issued a new guideline for prevention of perinatal depression, and it's surprising how easy it is. A few sessions of CBT or interpersonal therapy, usually initiated in the second trimester, significantly reduced the incidence of perinatal depression. The Task Force went on to stated that it had moderate confidence that if this were widely implemented, it could provide a substantial public benefit. It's important the this was done preventively, before depression was established. It should be done in high risk groups: women with a history of depression, subsyndromal symptoms of depression, and women in certain groups. These include low socio-economic status, adolescent or single parenthood, recent partner violence, elevated levels of anxiety or a history of negative life events. Insufficient or mixed evidence was found for other potential interventions, including exercise, dietary supplements, pharmacotherapy, and health systems interventions. The group concluded that physicians should provide counseling or refer pregnant women in these high-risk groups for counseling.