about:blank? Online Interventions for Postpartum Depression

Background: Despite the existence of effective interventions for postpartum depression, few women use them. Online interventions have the potential to overcome many barriers to treatment seeking. This systematic review describes the current state of research regarding online interventions for postpartum depression with special attention to the German-speaking area. Methods: We conducted a systematic Internet search to assess interventions found online. A systematic literature search identified publications on online interventions for women with postpartum depression, which targeted the reduction of symptoms of depression, the mother-child interaction, and/or other child-related variables. We extracted information on conceptual design, efficacy, and adherence to the interventions. Results: References to interventions on the Internet comprised mostly general advice about treatment options and some specific entries on face-to-face interventions. Online interventions were scarce. The systematic literature review yielded 14 articles on 6 mostly CBT-based interventions. While the programs were effective in reducing symptoms of depression, they had little impact on mother-child interaction. Other child-related variables were not included in the studies. There was no intervention from German-speaking countries. Discussion and Conclusions: The potential of online interventions for postpartum depression is hardly used. Guided CBT-based self-help interventions seem to be a promising treatment for postpartum depression, yet more research is needed.