Effects of family therapy on mental health and sleep of patients with postpartum depression

Objective To explore the effect of family therapy on mental health and sleep of patients with postpartum depression.MethodsTotally 70 patients with depression within 42 days after delivery in psychological department of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children were recruited as research subjects from June 2019 to June 2020. They were divided into health education group(n= 35) and family therapy group(n= 35) based on random number table. Family therapy group was given systematic family therapy, and health education group was given routine postpartum health education guidance. They were assessed by the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale(EPDS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale(PSQI) 1 week pre and post intervention, and the improvement of mental health and sleep in two groups were compared. Results Totally 61 patients were enrolled, including 30 in the health education group and 31 in the family therapy group. After intervention, EPDS and PSQI scores in 2 groups were lower than those before(P< 0. 05), and EPDS(9. 58 ± 3. 26) and PSQI(7. 12 ± 1. 98) scores in family therapy group were significantly lower than those in health education group(17. 23 ± 4. 38 and 14. 23 ± 1. 61)(P< 0. 05). Conclusion Family therapy can effectively improve the mental health and sleep of patients with postpartum depression through the joint treatment of patients and their relatives, which is worth of clinical application and promotion.