The Efficacy of Therapist-Guided Internet-Based Psychotherapy for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression and Anxiety Among Women Hospitalized with High-Risk Pregnancies

Background Despite ample evidence of high depression rates among women with high-risk pregnancies, there is limited information available regarding the effectiveness of Internet-based psychotherapies in this population. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of internet-based psychotherapy in treating depression and anxiety in pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies admitted to the hospital. Methods In a quasi-experimental study, 60 inpatient women with high-risk pregnancies exhibiting mild to moderate depression were allocated to either the experimental (n = 30) or control (n = 30) group. The experimental group received medical therapy with Internet-based Synchronous Individualized Therapy for six sessions, each lasting 50-60 min, conducted over six weeks. The control group solely received medical therapy. All participants completed questionnaires, including the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, at both baseline and the post-trial stage (6 weeks after the study commencement). Results The mean scores for depression and anxiety in both groups were elevated (experimental group: M = 11.36, SD = 4.84; M = 13.82, SD = 4.78; control group: M = 11.4, SD = 4.8; M = 13.6, SD = 4.6). Symptom severity decreased more significantly in the group receiving internet psychotherapy in addition to medical treatment than in the control group, with medium effect sizes observed for depression symptoms (eta(2) = 0.145, P = 0.003) and anxiety symptoms (eta(2) = 0.238, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the reduction in anxiety and depression scores in the internet psychotherapy group was notably more significant than in the control group, with a moderate effect size (eta(2) = 0.177, P = 0.041). Conclusion Augmenting medical therapy with therapist-guided internet-based psychotherapy may effectively reduce depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in pregnant women experiencing high-risk pregnancies and comorbid depression. These findings suggest that hospitalized, depressed pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies should be offered internet-based psychotherapy as an adjunctive treatment option.