Randomised controlled trial of facilitated exercise plus usual care versus usual care only as treatment for women with a depressive disorder in the first six postnatal months

Up to 10% of women have a depressive disorder in the first 6 months after birth.1 Many mothers are not effectively treated, largely due to reluctance to accept medication at this time and limited availability of timely psychological treatment.1 Physical activity is a potential intervention for postnatal depression (PND). However, evidence is limited to a few small, low-quality studies that suggest facilitated exercise has a modest beneficial effect on the prevention of PND and no statistically or clinically meaningful effect on the treatment of PND.2
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news