Objectives: In an attempt to offer further insights in the development of counselling skills to population at risk, this counselling program was tested among mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) to determine the effects of Mind-Body Intervention Program (MBIP). Methodology: Utilizing an Embedded Design: Embedded Experimental Model (1), it included 385 postpartum mothers from the Out-Patient Department of De La Salle University Medical Center, City of Dasmarinas, Cavite. These mothers were screened for PPD symptoms through Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and underwent psychiatric assessment, utilizing Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) to clinically diagnose PPD. Results: Out of 385 participants, 42 qualified and underwent permuted block randomization. After the individualized, eight sessions of MBIP, the following were revealed: In the experimental group, the 17 mothers with depression in the pre-test decreased to 2 (11.8%) in the post-test and 1 (5.9%) in the delayed post-test. As to the control group, the 19 mothers with depression in the pre-test decreased to 7 (36.8%) in the post-test and 7 (36.8%) in the delayed post-test. The dropout rates were 19% ( 4/21) and 9 .5% (2/21) for the experimental and control groups, respectively. The t-test result for comparing average post-test score of the experimental group (3.12) and the control group (6.00) had a p-value of 0.074, which means that there was no significant difference between the two groups. This shows that the participants responded positively to both interventions. On the other hand, after two months, the mean delayed post-test score of 1.53 (normal or no depression) with p<0.012 of the experimental group, and mean delayed post-test score of 7 .21 (almost normal or near-mild depression) with p<0.0 12 of the control group was statistically significant (p-value=0.024). This means, those in the experimental group maintained their feelings of well-being more than those from the control group. The t-test results for intention to treat data were the same with the results of t-tests when dropouts were excluded. This finding reveals that the data collected was sufficient to give a valid result. Conclusion Therefore, the findings appear that mind-body intervention program can alleviate mild to moderate post-partum depression for those mothers without psycho-pathologic ailment such as anxiety neuroses, phobias or personality disorders; hence, it can be an option in the absence of pharmacotherapy for this condition.
Depression, Postpartum