Exploring the feasibility of perinatal interpersonal psychotherapy group for distressed women

Objective: Studies have separately examined the effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy Group (IPT-G) at pregnancy and postpartum, while the feasibility of a Perinatal Interpersonal Psychotherapy Group (P-IPT-G) spanning pregnancy to postpartum is unknown. This study aimed to assess the recruitment, retention, and acceptability of P-IPT-G. Method: The intervention comprised eight 120-min sessions, four sessions during pregnancy and four during the postpartum phase. Fifty-six pregnant women experiencing distress or interpersonal conflict enrolled; 45 participated during pregnancy, and 25 completed the postpartum phase. Quantitative and qualitative feasibility data were analysed. Results: P-IPT-G demonstrated comparable recruitment efficiency (2.94) to prior studies, with a satisfactory consent rate (80.36%). Although the overall completion rate was modest (55.56%), session attendance was high (93.75%). Participants found P-IPT-G acceptable in its longitudinal structure, interpersonal psychotherapy content, and group format. They experienced the P-IPT-G as opportunities for self-reflection and wished for an extended course. Conclusions: Though recruitment and retention challenges exist, P-IPT-G is a feasible intervention in its content and procedure. Future research can apply an extended course to investigate its effectiveness.