Background: No targeted review has assessed the effect of psychological interventions on the mental health, personal relationships, and the quality of life of women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth.
Methods: Eight databases were searched from inception to January 2023. Study selection, data extraction, quality appraisal, and data analysis were conducted by two researchers independently.
Results: In total, eight studies were included. The results indicated that psychological interventions could effectively alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and anxiety in women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth. The interventions were more effective in alleviating PTSD symptoms than depression or anxiety. The subgroup analysis results showed that the effect of multiple sessions might be better than that of a single session. There was insufficient evidence supporting the effect of psychological interventions to improve personal relationships and the quality of life.
Limitations: Study limitations included the small number of studies included for meta-analysis, substantial heterogeneity, and the retrieval of only studies written in English or Chinese.
Conclusions: Psychological intervention is a promising method for the mental health of women who have subjectively experienced traumatic childbirth, but more studies are needed to confirm the effects. More studies are also required to explore the impact of psychological interventions on personal relationships and the quality of life. Future studies should focus on comparing which specific type of psychological intervention is most effective. Additional investigations should include the potential adverse effects and long-term effects of psychological interventions and details, such as content, process, and timing.
Keywords: Childbirth; Intervention; Meta-analysis; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Trauma.
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