Education Based on Interpersonal Psychotherapy on Postpartum Depression in Mothers of Infants Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background:The birth of a premature neonate causes increasing possibility of postpartum depression in mothers. The most important parental needs of infant admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are communicational and informational needs, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of Interpersonal psychotherapy on postpartum depression  in mothers of infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: This randomized interventional study investigated 92 primiparous women with a newborn admitted to neonatal intensive care unit. of Kamali Hospital. Sampling method was available and samples were randomly assigned into 2 groups of control and intervention by four blocks randomization method. In addition to routine care, the intervention group received 3 IPT counseling sessions. The data collection tool in this study was Edinburg Questionnaire. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in demographic characteristics between the control and intervention groups. The results of repeated measure test indicated that the postpartum depression  had a significant change over time (p = 0.000) with significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.000). Discussion: Considering the impact of IPT on postpartum depression, as well as the limited duration and cost of this program and the possibility of training it by midwives and medical staff, it is suggested to include this training program in the routine interventions for mothers with a newborn hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit.