Perinatal depression is a high prevalent mental health problem with serious consequences. Evidence about effective psychological interventions in treating perinatal depression has been increasing, but it lacks a comprehensive synthesis of findings. A systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses concerning the effectiveness of psychological interventions in treating perinatal depression (depression during pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum) in adult women was conducted. The electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Prospero were searched, on May 2020, using a combination of keywords. Data were independently extracted by two authors and a synthesis of the results was presented. Methodological quality was independently assessed by two authors, using AMSTAR-2. Seven systematic reviews were included and reported, overall, the effectiveness of psychological interventions in decreasing depressive symptoms in women in the perinatal period, both short and long-term. CBT was found to be the most effective intervention, regardless of the treatment format. Grey literature was not searched, and some studies may overlap among the included systematic reviews. These (the included reviews) were rated with low methodological quality, which weakens the evidence of the reported results. CBT is currently the most evidence-based psychological intervention, provided in different delivery formats (individual, group, face-to-face or Internet-based). Further studies, including systematic reviews, with other types of psychological interventions (e.g., third-wave CBT) and with higher quality are needed.

Although suicide is the main cause of maternal death during pregnancy in industrialized countries, there are few research regarding the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation during pregnancy, especially in Spain. In a multicenter study, the sample included 1,524 pregnant women recruited from an obstetrics setting from two Spanish tertiary-care public hospitals. The prevalence of prenatal suicidal ideation was estimated by analyzing their responses to item 9 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The risk factors (which increases the probability of having suicidal ideation) included sociodemographic and biomedical variables, and the stress subscale from the revised prenatal version of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory (PDPI-R). A total of 2.6% of pregnant women reported suicidal ideation. Risk factors of suicidal ideation during pregnancy include sociodemographic, such as prior history of depression (β = 0.120, p < .05), unemployment (β = 0.149, p < .05), and being an immigrant (β = 0.140, p < .01), and biomedical variables, such as previous abortion (β =0.169, p < .01) and assisted reproduction (β = -0.100, p < .05). Given that the prevalence of suicidal ideation is higher than expected, the results of the study suggest the critical need for screening and designing preventive interventions adapted to pregnant women to decrease risk of associated suicidal behavior. In protocols carried out by midwives, specific risk factors should be included in health screenings during pregnancy.

Background: Pregnancy is a period when women are particularly vulnerable to suicidal ideation and a great opportunity for suicide risk prevention. Aims: This study aimed to establish a comprehensive understanding of suicidal ideation prevalence, risk factors, screening tools, consequences and management during pregnancy. Method: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE and PsycInfo databases from 2016 to 2021. A narrative synthesis of the literature and a critical overview of the current issues/questions to be addressed within the topic of suicidal ideation during pregnancy was performed. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation during pregnancy was between 2.73 and 18% internationally. The risk factors identified were major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, difficulties with sleep, previous suicide attempts, high rumination, low incomes, being black, being young, low educational level, partner violence, having poor support, food insecurity, history of child abuse, high obstetric risk, multiparity, previous induced abortion and exposure to tobacco or human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis. The screening tools used for suicidal ideation during pregnancy were item 10 of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire. Results showed that suicidal ideation during pregnancy is associated with poor cognitive development in children and low birth weight. No case management studies on suicidal ideation were found. Limitations: The main limitation of the available studies was the lack of articles with a high degree of methodological rigour on this subject. Conclusions: This narrative review is a state-of-the-art paper about suicidal ideation during pregnancy. Further research is needed, and researchers should carry out systematic reviews and meta-analyses, leading to Clinical Practice Guidelines in this area. This effort would improve our evidence-based practice in Perinatal Psychology and prevent associated suicidal behaviour.

Background: Since February 24th, 2022, the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, more than 80,000 women were expected to give birth. Therefore, understanding the impact of war on the perinatal health of women is an important requisite to improve perinatal care. This narrative synthesis has two main purposes: on one hand, it aims to summarize the current evidence available based on perinatal health outcomes and care among perinatal women; on the other, it attempts to identify the gaps still present in research in relation to perinatal care. Method: A literature search was completed in diverse databases (e.g., Medline, PsychInfo). Results: Emergent matters related to practice and research in perinatal refugee women have been discussed. Conclusions: In the face of the war in Ukraine, we need to build up further research to provide an evidence-based foundation for preventing and treating the psychological consequences of pregnant women exposed directly to war and those who have been forced into a refugee status during this vulnerable period. Also, it is essential to support not only women transitioning to motherhood, but also supporting midwives and nurses in their work. Antecedentes:, Desde el 24 de febrero de 2022, el comienzo de la agresión de Rusia contra Ucrania, se esperaba que más de 80,000 mujeres dieran a luz. Por lo tanto, comprender el impacto de la guerra en la salud perinatal de las mujeres es un requisito importante para mejorar la atención perinatal. Esta revisión narrativa tiene dos propósitos principales: por un lado, tiene como objetivo resumir la evidencia actual disponible basada en los resultados de salud perinatal y la atención a las mujeres perinatales y, por otro lado, intenta identificar las brechas aún presentes en la investigación en relación con la atención perinatal. ,Método:, Se completó una búsqueda bibliográfica en diversas bases de datos (p. ej., Medline, PsychInfo). ,Resultados,: Se han discutido temas emergentes relacionados con la práctica y la investigación en mujeres refugiadas perinatales. ,Conclusiones:, Frente a la guerra en Ucrania necesitamos más investigación para construir una base partiendo de la evidencia con el fin de prevenir y tratar las consecuencias psicológicas de las mujeres embarazadas expuestas directamente a la guerra y de aquellas que se han visto obligadas al estatus de refugiadas durante este período vulnerable. Además, es esencial apoyar no solo a las mujeres en transición a la maternidad, sino también a las matronas y enfermeras en su trabajo.