Psychological interventions to improve maternal mental health and resilience during pregnancy in the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

TL;DR

A systematic review of 16 studies found that psychological interventions (including CBT, mindfulness, and psychoeducation) delivered in digital or hybrid formats reduced depression, anxiety, and stress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, though methodological quality was modest and outcome measures were heterogeneous.

Key findings

• Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and psychoeducation delivered individually, in groups, or digitally showed promise for reducing maternal psychological distress
• Most included studies reported improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, and some resilience-related factors
• Methodological limitations included heterogeneous outcome measures, modest study quality, and limited follow-up periods
• Digital and hybrid intervention formats appeared particularly scalable for supporting maternal mental health when routine care access is disrupted

Why this matters at the bedside

Identifies practical delivery models (digital/hybrid) for psychological support of pregnant women during health system disruptions, supporting maintenance of maternal mental health care in crisis situations.