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Internet therapy for postpartum depression: a case illustration of emailed therapeutic assistance

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Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) afflicts up to 15 % of Canadian women following childbirth. Minimal research has focused on therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for PPD. The purpose of this paper was to illustrate this novel treatment approach that was offered to a woman afflicted with PPD. A first-time mother participated in therapist-assisted ICBT for PPD. She completed the seven-module intervention in 12 weeks, sent seven emails to her therapist, and received 13 therapeutic emails. Therapeutic exchanges are presented. Treatment progress, therapeutic alliance, and treatment satisfaction were assessed. Symptom reduction was observed on all measures at post-treatment. Treatment satisfaction and a strong therapeutic alliance were also reported. The case will expand clinician understanding in therapist-assisted ICBT for PPD and may serve to stimulate clinician interest. Future research directions stemming from this case are presented.

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Notes

  1. 1The case presented in this manuscript was a part of a randomized controlled trial.

  2. 2In keeping with ethical principles, identifying details — including the client’s name — have been modified to protect the anonymity of the client. This client gave permission for extracts from her therapeutic emails and check-ins to be used for this case illustration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the client for participating in the program and Marcie Nugent and Max Ivanov for their involvement in the development and management of the Online Therapy Unit for Service Education and Research, University of Regina. We also acknowledge Swinburne University’s National eTherapy Centre in Australia for licensing their existing therapist-assisted ICBT program that was utilized in this case study. This work was supported by funding provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (reference number 101526) and Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The views expressed in the submitted article are that of the authors’ and not an official position of the institution or funders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada, S4S 0A2

    Nicole E. Pugh, Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos & Chantalle M. Fuchs

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  1. Nicole E. Pugh
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  2. Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos
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  3. Chantalle M. Fuchs
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Correspondence to Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos.

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Pugh, N.E., Hadjistavropoulos, H.D. & Fuchs, C.M. Internet therapy for postpartum depression: a case illustration of emailed therapeutic assistance. Arch Womens Ment Health 17, 327–337 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0439-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0439-2

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