The Effect of a Pamphlet on Women's Experiences of Postpartum Depression

Abstract

A randomized controlled trial was used to test the effect of an educational pamphlet mailed at 4-weeks postpartum to women who were at low risk of postpartum depression (n = 256). Based on telephone interviews at 3-months postpartum, women in the intervention group scored significantly lower on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) than those in the control group. Few women scored 12 or higher on the EPDS (n = 3 intervention group, n = 9 control group). The pamphlet did not influence the women's awareness of the symptoms of postpartum depression.