Acceptability and efficacy of a smartphone intervention informed by interpersonal psychotherapy for perinatal mental health: A randomized controlled trial
In brief
90% rated the pregnancy mental health app highly; postpartum symptoms were lower
In a randomized trial of 350 pregnant women, 90% of app users met the study's threshold for high satisfaction. The self-guided app did not reduce depressive symptoms during pregnancy compared with usual care, but scores were modestly lower one month after birth; whether that difference lasts or benefits women with depression remains unknown.
- Journal
- Psychological medicine (Q1)
- Published
- 24 September 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Yuko Toshishige, Takuya Okami, Natsumi Chatani, Shiori Kawasaki, Shinobu Goto, Yuki Yoshida, et al.
- PMID
- 42779472
- DOI
- 10.1017/S0033291726105868
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Neonatology (top studies of the week, 27 September 2026): Perinatal mental health intervention, not neonatal clinical care
- Picked for Obstetrics and Gynecology (top studies of the week, 27 September 2026): Lower depressive symptom scores at 1 month postpartum
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression is a global health concern linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Although evidence-based psychological interventions, such as interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), are effective, women lack access to in-person perinatal care. Smartphone-based interventions may offer scalable support; however, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating IPT-informed smartphone interventions remains limited. This study assessed the acceptability and efficacy of an IPT-informed smartphone intervention for perinatal mental well-being. METHODS: Participants were recruited nationwide through online advertisements and postcards. In this nonblinded RCT, 350 pregnant women were assigned to a fully self-guided smartphone application (intervention) or usual care (control). No minimum depression symptom score was required for participation. Acceptability in the intervention group at 8 weeks after enrolment was indicated by the Japanese version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8J) scores of ≥17. Efficacy was defined as the change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores from baseline to 8 weeks following enrolment. Depressive symptoms were assessed at 1 month postpartum. RESULTS: The application achieved acceptability, with 90.2% (157/174) of participants scoring ≥17 on the CSQ-8J. No significant between-group differences in depressive symptoms were observed during pregnancy (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.11). At 1 month postpartum, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower depressive symptom scores (SMD = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: The smartphone application was highly acceptable. While no significant differences in depressive symptoms were observed during pregnancy, differences favoring the intervention group were observed at 1 month postpartum. An IPT-informed smartphone intervention may represent a promising approach to perinatal mental health support.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.