Abstract
•Anxiety disorders are the most common postpartum psychiatric conditions.•In this open-trial pilot study, we evaluate a prevention program for postpartum anxiety.•Findings reveal the program is acceptable and feasible.•Participants experienced improvements in postpartum anxiety risk factors.
Anxiety disorders are the most common postpartum psychiatric conditions, yet limited research exists on the prevention of postpartum anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Postpartum anxiety leads to significant problems in both mother and child, such as maternal depression, difficulty breastfeeding, interference with parent-infant bonding, and childhood anxiety. In the current study, we tested the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of an Internet-delivered postpartum anxiety and OCD prevention program, “Preventing Postpartum Onset Distress” (P-POD), in a sample of 15 pregnant women in their third trimester. Geared toward at-risk pregnant people, P-POD includes seven 30-minute educational, interactive modules that teach skills derived from cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety and OCD. P-POD also includes three additional modules for partners, with strategies for supporting their partners. Findings suggest that P-POD is acceptable and feasible. Participants experienced reductions in postpartum anxiety risk factors. However, this was a small, open-trial pilot study with a relatively homogeneous sample. Future research should compare P-POD to an active control condition, use more diverse samples, include qualitative interviews, and assess symptoms postpartum.