Clinics in Mother and Child Health

Abstract

Women's Experience of GCBT for PPD

Mette skovgaard Vaever

The aim of this study was to identify what women find therapeutically helpful in a Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (GCBT) for Post-partum depression and in their challenged developmental process of becoming a mother. The present intervention differed from other GCBT interventions as it included the presence of the women’s babies in the group sessions used as an “in vivo exposure” technique. Using a mixed methods design twelve first-time mothers’ experiences of the intervention were examined using the Elliott’s Client Change Interview. Survey data from Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores was included to add weight to the clients qualitative reports of change. The results showed that the women through the intervention experienced an overall positive change in their developmental process into motherhood. Especially, the presence of the infants, the group setting, the CBTtechniques were reported to be key factors for the women’s experienced change.