Relationship and mother-infant bonding outcomes following a psychological intervention for antenatal anxiety

• Main Author: Thompson-Booth, Chloe
• Other Authors: Fearon, R. P.
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2017
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.747004

This thesis focuses on anxiety during pregnancy and the development of interventions to treat antenatal anxiety. Part One reports on a meta-analysis investigating the effectiveness of psychological interventions on reducing anxiety, depression and stress (combined to create a composite “distress” score) during pregnancy. A random-effects meta-analysis on the reduction of “distress” was conducted, as well as subgroup analyses and metaregressions investigating the differential effectiveness of preventative and treatment trials, of individual and group interventions, of different therapeutic models, and of number of intervention sessions. Part Two reports on a feasibility Randomised Control Trial (RCT) that investigated the impact of a group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention to treat antenatal anxiety on pregnant women’s self-reported intimate relationship functioning and bonding with their child. Relationship functioning was assessed at three antenatal time-points and once postnatally and mother-infant bonding was assessed at postnatal follow-up. Analyses compared scores on the measures of relationship functioning and bonding in the intervention group with a “Treatment As Usual” control group. Part Three provides a critical reflection on the research project presented in Part Two, focusing on some of the challenges faced while conducting this research. The experience of being involved in an RCT as both a researcher and a clinician is discussed, as well as further reflections on the research and clinical implications of this project.