Clinical effects of escitalopram treatment combined with psychological interventions during peri-parturition period for patients with postpartum depression

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical effects of escitalopram combined with psychological interventions during peri-parturition period for patients with postpartum depression. Methods From July to December in 2012, totally 493 pregnant women were performed psychological interventions during peri-parturition period, and 34 cases of them who suffered from postpartum depression were treated with escitalopram 10mg daily combined with systemic psychotherapy as the study group. From January to June in 2012, totally 367 pregnant women were not performed psychological interventions during peri-parturition period, and 32 cases who suffered from postpartum depression were treated with escitalopram 10 mg daily and only with support psychotherapy as the control group. Both groups were observed for 8 weeks. The Hamilton rating scale (HAMD) and Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness (CGI-SI) were tested before treatment and after 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment to evaluate the efficacy.The data were compared. Results The incidence of postpartum depression was 7.7% in the study group which was significantly lower than that in the control (11.7%, χ2=3.96, P 0.05). Conclusion Psychological interventions during peri-parturition period and escitalopram treatment combined with systemic psychotherapy in depression stage had better effects on preventing and curing postpartum depression. Key words: Escitalopram; Peri-parturition period; Psychotherapy; Postpartum depression