The Utilization of Art Therapy During Pregnancy to Reduce the Incidence of Postpartum Depression

The purpose of this research study is to assess whether alternative mental health interventions positively impacts maternal-infant bonding and postpartum depression rates in women. Postpartum depression continues to be a prevalent concern for mothers and families in the United States, with current estimates demonstrating 10-20% of women being diagnosed within one year of birth. The risks of developing postpartum depression are not well known, with maternal anxiety and stress during pregnancy being one of the proposed predisposing factors. Women with high-risk pregnancies are particularly susceptible to higher levels of stress and depression, during their pregnancy thus leaving them at great risk for postnatal depression. Given this association, finding ways to alleviate stressors is important.

Music therapy is a known intervention linked with improved outcomes in women undergoing procedural interventions, including labor and delivery. Art therapy is also associated with improved outcomes, though outside of obstetrics. In elderly women with depression and those with breast cancer diagnoses, visual art therapy has been shown to be superior to other non-medicinal interventions in improving mood. Current data is both qualitative as well as quantitative, demonstrating positive impacts on patients.

While evidence exists to support the utilization of these alternative forms of therapy, they have not been adequately applied to pregnant and postpartum women outside of music therapy. With the understanding that other art forms are tied with improvement in anxiety, depression, and quality of life, the implementation in this special patient population is paramount. Investigating how a relatively benign intervention can possibly promote improvement in maternal mental health, thus allowing for better mother-baby bonding in the first year of life, is key in finding ways to support the growth and development of healthy families.