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Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to one in five mothers and birthing parents, yet just 10% receive evidence‐based care. This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine if a synchronous online 9‐week group cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention delivered by mothers who have recovered from postpartum depression (i.e., peers) could effectively improve PPD and its comorbidities. Methods: Participants (n = 183) in this study lived in Ontario, Canada, were ≥18 years‐old, had an infant <12 months, were fluent in English, and scored ≥10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). They were randomized to experimental (received intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU)) or waitlist control (TAU plus the intervention after a 9‐week wait) groups. Depression, anxiety, social support, mother‐infant bonding, and infant temperament were assessed at baseline and 9 weeks later. Outcomes were assessed in the experimental group 3 months post‐intervention to assess stability. Results: Statistically significant reductions were observed in EPDS (B = 5.99; p < 0.001; d = 1.32) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire‐7 scores (B = 5.94; p < 0.001; d = 1.22), improvements that remained stable 3 months post‐intervention in the experimental group. Maternal social support (p = 0.02; d = 0.40), infant‐focused anxiety (p = 0.02; d = 0.54), and infant negative emotionality (p < 0.01; d = 0.23) also improved post‐intervention and remained stable 3 months later. Conclusion: Online peer‐delivered group CBT for PPD can effectively treat PPD and anxiety, and improve social support, infant‐focused anxiety, and negative emotionality in infants. This intervention could provide the means to increase access to treatment for those experiencing PPD and improve outcomes for mothers, birthing parents, and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While research has examined the mental health of general population samples of postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic's impact on women seeking treatment for postpartum depression (PPD) is not well known. This study compared levels of depression and anxiety, the quality of social relationships, and the temperament of infants of treatment-seeking mothers in Ontario, Canada prior to and during the pandemic. Methods: Mothers with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores ≥10 and seeking treatment for PPD prior to COVID-19 (n = 100) were compared to those who sought treatment during the pandemic (n = 120). Mothers self-reported symptoms of depression, worry/anxiety, partner relationship quality, social support, as well as aspects of the mother–infant relationship and infant temperament. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in symptoms of depression, anxiety, or the quality of social relationships between women seeking treatment for PPD before or during the pandemic. However, mothers reported poorer relationships with their infants, and there was evidence of more negative emotionality in their infants during COVID-19. Conclusions: The pandemic may not have worsened depression, anxiety, relationships with partners, or social support in mothers seeking treatment for PPD, but appears to have contributed to poorer mother–infant interactions and maternal reports of more negative emotionality in their infants. These findings highlight the importance of identifying women with possible PPD, supporting mother–infant interactions, and monitoring their infants during COVID-19 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]