Summary: A study found that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) during pregnancy not only improves sleep quality but also reduces postpartum depression. Delivered during pregnancy, CBT-I significantly reduced depressive symptoms in the postpartum period, suggesting effective insomnia treatment can serve as a protective factor. Researchers emphasize the need to make CBT-I more accessible to expectant mothers nationwide to enhance sleep health equity and support mental well-being for new parents and their children.
Key Takeaways:
- CBT-I During Pregnancy Reduces Postpartum Depression: The study found that treating insomnia with CBT-I during pregnancy significantly reduces postpartum depressive symptoms, offering a potential protective factor for maternal mental health.
- Improved Sleep Quality for Expectant Mothers: CBT-I improved sleep for pregnant participants, challenging the notion that poor sleep during pregnancy is inevitable and underscoring the value of early insomnia intervention.
- Need for Wider Accessibility: Researchers highlighted the importance of making CBT-I more accessible to pregnant individuals nationwide to enhance sleep health equity and improve mental health outcomes for families.
While many people believe that poor sleep during pregnancy is inevitable, new research has determined that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) while pregnant can not only improve sleep patterns but also address postpartum depression.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan and Vancouver campuses, as well as the University of Calgary, discovered that delivering CBT-I during pregnancy significantly reduces postpartum depressive symptoms after a baby arrives.
“Early intervention is crucial for infant and parental mental health,” says Elizabeth Keys, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan School of Nursing and a study co-author, in a news release. “Our research explores how addressing sleep problems like insomnia can lead to better mental health outcomes for families, helping parents and their children thrive.”
The study appears in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Addressing Insomnia
CBT-I is a therapeutic intervention that identifies thoughts, behaviors, and sleep patterns that contribute to insomnia. Treatment includes challenging or reframing misconceptions and restructuring habits to improve sleep quality.
“CBT-I is the gold standard for the treatment of insomnia and has consistently been shown to improve symptoms of depression,” says Keys in a release. “Its treatment effects are similar to antidepressant medications among adults but with fewer side effects and is therefore often preferred by pregnant individuals.”
CBT-I Beneficial During and After Pregnancy
Sixty-two women assessed for insomnia and depressive symptoms participated in the study—with half randomly assigned to an intervention group and half to a control group.
“We found that CBT-I during pregnancy significantly improved sleep and reduced postpartum depressive symptoms for participants,” Keys says in a release. “These are enormously encouraging results for anyone that has struggled in those early weeks and months with their newborns.”
Results indicate that effective insomnia treatment during pregnancy may serve as a protective factor against postpartum depression.
“Our study adds to the growing evidence that treating insomnia during pregnancy is beneficial for various outcomes,” Keys says in a release. “It’s time to explore how we can make this treatment more accessible to pregnant individuals across the country to improve sleep health equity.”
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