Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled studies were included in the review.
Specific interventions included in the review
The interventions needed to be structured or unstructured antenatal interventions offered after a screening process to identify women 'at risk' of developing postpartum depression. The interventions in the included studies involved between two and eight weekly antenatal sessions, with some offering a variable number of postnatal sessions. Clinical psychologists, a psychiatric nurse, or a midwife educator delivered the interventions. The interventions included: extending support and accessing help; psychoeducation including mothercraft information; a standardised intervention using problem-solving to enhance social support; empowerment discussion groups; and inter-personal therapy covering psychoeducation, role transition and conflict resolution. All the studies used unvalidated screening questionnaires to identify women at 'high risk'.
Participants included in the review
Pregnant women in any care setting were eligible for inclusion in the review. The proportions of women in the included studies who were 'at risk' of postnatal depression varied between 25 and 58% (one unstated).
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcome measures were those assessing the prevalence of symptoms of postnatal depression and the identification of cases of depression at various time points after birth. The included studies used a range of measures for depression and assessed individuals at 6 and 12 weeks and at 3 months.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.