Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention on Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality among Postnatal Women

Mostafa Amer, Hemat; Sh. Shehata, Hanady; Hasan Alam, Faten; Kamal Mohamed Sweelam, Rasha; Mostafa Arrab, Mervat

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.255807

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention on Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality among Postnatal Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assist Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt

² Assist Professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt

³ Lecturer of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt

⁴ Assist Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt and Assist Professor of Nursing Department, College of Nursing, King Khalid University, Khamis Mushait, KSA.

10.21608/ejhc.2022.255807

Abstract

Background: Postpartum period is associated with emotional disturbances with the tendency
occurrence of post-partum depression and change in sleep quality. Cognitive behavioral therapy has
been suggested as the primary line treatment for managing postnatal depression and it is also
successful in dealing with post partum sleep problems. Aim: to investigate the effectiveness of
cognitive behavioral therapy intervention on depressive symptoms and sleep quality among
postnatal women. Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Setting: The study was
conducted at three Maternal and Child Health Centers; three from ten health centers were selected
by multistage random selection included; Shebin El-Kom (two centers) and Tala (one center)
districts affiliated to Menoufia governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of 260
postpartum women selected from previous chosen settings. Instruments: three instruments were
utilized included: An interviewing questionnaire contained; socio-demographic characteristics and
current obstetric history of the studied women, The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Sleep
Quality Scale. Results: 81.5% of studied women suffer from possible depressive symptoms (risk for
depression) in pre intervention, decreased to 53.5% in post intervention with statistical significance
differences between pre and post intervention p =.000. Furthermore, there were statistical
significance improvements in the levels of sleep quality among studied women p =.000 as
evidenced by, 23.1% of studied women with severe sleep problem in pre intervention, decreased to
8.4% in post intervention as a consequence of intervention; 35.7% of studied women with mild
sleep problem in pre intervention improved to 51.2% in post intervention. In addition, there was
negative correlation between total score of depressive symptoms and sleep quality after cognitive
behavioral therapy intervention. Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral therapy was an effective
maneuver in reducing the symptoms of postpartum depression and improves sleep quality in
postnatal women. Recommendation: Health education intervention based on preventive CBT
should be provided to postnatal women to deal effectively with changes in sleep quality and manage
depressive symptoms associated with postpartum period.

Keywords