Complementary health approaches for postpartum depression: A systematic review

Postpartum Depression (PPD) affects approximately 9 - 20% of women. Many women with PPD go undiagnosed and/ or do not follow through on referrals for treatment. Although the most routinely prescribed treatments for PPD are antidepressant medication and psychotherapy, a significant number of women desire non-traditional options. This article provides a systematic review of ten recently published, randomized clinical trials in the examination of the effectiveness of complementary health approaches—the use of non-mainstream products and interventions—on PPD. A search of nine databases of the English language literature from the years 2006 to 2018 was performed. Review criteria included published work, utilization of randomized-controlled trials, and the use of a reliable and valid measurement tool to identify cases of PPD and monitor changes in symptom severity. The studies reviewed focused on the following interventions: aromatherapy, bright light therapy, electroacupuncture, infant massage, iron supplementation, mindfulness training, omega-3 fatty acids, saffron, and yoga. Outcomes demonstrate the feasibility and safety of these approaches, as well as varying degrees of effectiveness. While many were pilot studies using small sample sizes, the results are encouraging and substantiate the need for additional trials. Studies are summarized and limitations and implications for social work and future research are described.