Psychoeducation as an active ingredient for interventions for perinatal depression and anxiety in youth: A mixed-method systematic literature review and lived experience synthesis

BackgroundPsychoeducation is a common element in psychological interventions for youth depression and anxiety, but evidence about its use with youth perinatally is limited. MethodsFor this review, we synthesised published quantitative and qualitative evidence, and insights from consultations with a Youth Advisory Group (YAG; N=12), to understand outcomes and mechanisms of psychoeducation for the indicated prevention and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety in youth. Seven databases (ASSIA, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsychINFO, PsychArticles, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched for studies published prior to August 10, 2021. Seven quantitative studies examined multi-component interventions that included psychoeducation, while one study evaluated psychoeducation as a standalone intervention for postnatal depression. ResultsMulticomponent interventions showed significant effects on postnatal depression in two out of six studies, as well as being effective at reducing prenatal anxiety in one study. Standalone psychoeducation for postnatal depression was also effective in one study. Evidence from 12 qualitative studies, corroborated by insights from the YAG, suggested that psychoeducation could increase knowledge about symptoms; generate awareness of relevant services; and enhance coping. LimitationsCurrent evidence for effectiveness of psychoeducation in youth is limited, hence some of the reviewed studies used samples with a wider age range. Therefore, only three out of eight quantitative and six out of 12 qualitative studies focused on the target age range only. ConclusionsPsychoeducation may be an important foundational ingredient of interventions for perinatal depression and potentially anxiety in adolescents and young adults as it stimulates help seeking and self-care.