Women’s experience of CBT during the Postnatal period
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of how women who present with depression in the postnatal period experience Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service.
IRAS ID
119709
Contact name
Elizabeth Newton
Contact email
Research summary
Postnatal depression (PND) is a uni-polar, non-psychotic, mood disorder related temporally to the birth of a baby (Craig and Howard, 2009). If it is left untreated it can have a negative impact upon the physical and psychological health of the mother and infant (Alder, et al, 2007). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the psychotherapies recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence for the treatment of PND (NICE, 2007). CBT has been found to be an effective treatment for depression (Butler et al, 2006 and Dennis, 2004). The evidence for CBT as the most effective treatment for depression in the postnatal period remains inconclusive (Cuijpers et al, 2008). \nMany women choose not to take psychotropic medication during their pregnancy or whilst breast-feeding because of fears of harming their baby (Boath et al, 2004). This reduces their treatment options. Furthermore, because the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative proposes that CBT is the treatment of choice for depression including depression occurring in the postnatal period, the psychotherapeutic model most often available to mothers seeking non-pharmacological treatment in the NHS is CBT. The empirical evidence is suggesting that there is a difference in the way mothers with PND experience CBT. \nIn order to further understand the therapeutic needs of this discrete group of service users, mothers who have undergone CBT for PND will be invited to take part in individual hour-long semi-structured interviews asking them about their experience. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is a qualitative method of research that facilitates an in-depth examination of how individuals make sense of their major life experiences (Smith, Flower and Larkin, 2009). This study aims to use this method to answer the following question:\nHow do women who present with postnatal depression experience Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapy service? \n
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0328
Date of REC Opinion
29 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion