Clinical and Cost-effectiveness of an Online Self-help Intervention and a Face-to-face Intervention Versus Usual Care in Mothers at Moderate Risk for Perinatal Depression

Online Self-Help refers to a 24/7 accessible, internet-based platform that offers digital modules grounded in evidence-based approaches, including infant mental health, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic interventions, aimed at addressing perinatal depression (https://perinatalehulp.be/). Upon logging in, participants receive an overview of the available modules and can select from three distinct treatment trajectories, ideally to be completed over the course of 10 weeks: (a) a self-directed option allowing free choice among all modules; (b) a structured CBT trajectory incorporating both second-wave and third-wave cognitive-behavioral strategies; or (c) a psychodynamic trajectory primarily focused on relational and attachment-related factors contributing to the onset and maintenance of perinatal depression.

A brief, eight-session face-to-face intervention designed for (expectant) mothers and their infants across the perinatal period, consisting of four prenatal sessions (during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy) and four postnatal sessions conducted within the first three months postpartum. The intervention is grounded in psychodynamic principles and informed by mentalization-based approaches

Prenatal care is provided through follow-up by a general practitioner and a gynecologist and/or a midwife, while postnatal follow-up is conducted by Child and Family Care Services.