The effectiveness of attention training technique on depression, anxiety and cognitive beliefs in patients with postpartum depression

Postpartum depression disorder is a common psychosocial disorder with negative consequences for the mother and child. On the other hand, attention training technique can be more effective than other techniques for intervention in the cognitive-attention syndrome. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of attention training technique on the symptoms of depression, anxiety and metacognitive beliefs in patients with postpartum depression.
Methods & Materials: This study was conducted in a single-case experimental design using a multiple baseline design in eight sessions during one-, three- and six-month follow-ups on two patients, referred to the psychology and psychiatry unit of Tabriz Red Crescent in 2018. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire were used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed using the Excel software as a graphical analysis and then based on the percentage of improvement, effect size and clinical significance.

At the end of treatment, a significant reduction was observed in the symptoms of depression (61% remission), anxiety (48% remission) and metacognitive beliefs (83% remission) in patients with postpartum depression.

The results of this study showed that attention training technique can be effective in the treatment of patients with postpartum depression. However, further studies are needed in this area.