Depression, Pregnancy Related
Conditions
Brief summary
The prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) varies between 11.9% and 19.2% during the perinatal period. PPD refers to minor and major depression incidents that occur during pregnancy or shortly after (up until 12 months after birth). The symptoms of PPD embrace feeling sad or having a depressed mood, being uninterested in the new-born, unreasonable crying and fear of injuring or harming the baby. Consequently, PPD can negatively impact the mother's well-being and the baby's development. The impact on a child can be short for cognitive and motor development . Although medication is a feasible alternative, many women have constraints due to continuing breastfeeding. Therefore, exercise can be an alternative that could help to deal with PPD. Exercise can be used as a preventive or treatment of mild depression at an early stage and as an addition to a treatment plan for major depressive disorder. Exercising during pregnancy and postpartum improves psychological health and also benefits physical fitness, weight gain control and the prevention or reduction of musculoskeletal discomfort and pain. Therefore, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists has recommended that women during pregnancy and postpartum engage in moderate-intensity physical activity almost every day for 30 min a day
Detailed description
The prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) varies between 11.9% and 19.2% during the perinatal period. PPD refers to minor and major depression incidents that occur during pregnancy or shortly after (up until 12 months after birth). The symptoms of PPD embrace feeling sad or having a depressed mood, being uninterested in the new-born, unreasonable crying and fear of injuring or harming the baby. Consequently, PPD can negatively impact the mother's well-being and the baby's development. The impact on a child can be short for cognitive and motor development . Although medication is a feasible alternative, many women have constraints due to continuing breastfeeding. Therefore, exercise can be an alternative that could help to deal with PPD. Exercise can be used as a preventive or treatment of mild depression at an early stage and as an addition to a treatment plan for major depressive disorder. Exercising during pregnancy and postpartum improves psychological health and also benefits physical fitness, weight gain control and the prevention or reduction of musculoskeletal discomfort and pain. Therefore, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists has recommended that women during pregnancy and postpartum engage in moderate-intensity physical activity almost every day for 30 min a day
Interventions
BEHAVIORALexercise in pregnancy
aerobic exercise
Sponsors
Federico II University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Exercise during pregnancy
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
20 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* singleton gestation * low risk pregnancy * age between 20 and 40
Exclusion criteria
* high risk pregnancy * multiple gestation * prior post partum depression * any psychiatric disase * controindication for exercise * lung or heart disease * prior preterm birth * IVF pregnancy * women who already perform agonistic sport activity
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| edinburgh depression scale | 3 months after delivery | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Postpartum depression | 3 months after delivery | DSM-5 (SCID-5) |
| preterm birth | 37 weeks of gestation | defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation |
Countries
Italy
Contacts
Primary ContactGabriele Saccone, MD
Outcome results
None listed