Couple-based Interpersonal Psychotherapy on Postnatal Depression and Family Sense of Coherence
Couple-based Interpersonal Psychotherapy on Postnatal Depression and Family Sense of Coherence
Postnatal depression is a common public health problem which has long-term sequelae on the
 family and the infant's psychosocial development. Interpersonal psychotherapy has
 demonstrated its value as one of the most effective interventions for postnatal depression.
 The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a couple-based interpersonal psychotherapy
 for first-time Chinese mothers and fathers on depressive symptoms, family sense of coherence,
 and marital relationships immediately after intervention and at 6 weeks and 6 months
 postpartum.
Background: Postnatal depression is a common public health problem which has long-term
 sequelae on the family and the infant's psychosocial development. Interpersonal psychotherapy
 has demonstrated its value as one of the most effective interventions for postnatal
 depression. Enhancement of family sense of coherence may be helpful for women who are at risk
 for postnatal depression. However, few studies in the context of Chinese parenthood have
 evaluated the effect of interpersonal psychotherapy on postnatal depression and the
 underlying mechanisms.

 Aim: To examine the effect of a couple-based interpersonal psychotherapy for first-time
 Chinese mothers and fathers on depressive symptoms (primary outcome), family sense of
 coherence (secondary outcome), and marital relationships (secondary outcome) immediately
 after intervention and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum.

 Method: A randomized controlled trial will be used to evaluate the effect of a couple-based
 interpersonal psychotherapy on depressive symptoms (primary outcome), family sense of
 coherence (secondary outcome), and marital relationships (secondary outcome) immediately
 after intervention and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. A convenience sample of 125
 couples will be recruited at the antenatal clinics and randomly assigned to either
 experimental or control group. The experimental group will receive the intervention in
 addition to the standard perinatal care, while the control group will only receive the
 standard perinatal care.

 Intervention: The intervention consists of three weekly 2-hour antenatal sessions using an
 interpersonal psychotherapy approach that focused on enhancement of family sense of coherence
 and two telephone follow-ups within the first four weeks after delivery.

 Outcome measures: The primary outcome measure of postnatal depression will be assessed by the
 Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Secondary outcome measures of family sense of coherence
 and the marital relationship, will be assessed by the Family Sense of Coherence Scale and
 Dyadic Adjustment, respectively, at baseline, immediately post-intervention, 6 weeks and 6
 months postpartum.

 Data analysis: Linear mixed models will be used to test for significant differences between
 the groups on outcome variables.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  aged 18 or above;

 -  married, first-time parents, live together;

 -  able to speak and read Chinese; and Hong Kong residents.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  a present history of psychiatric illness