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Women's experiences of internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (iCBT) for Fear of Birth

Baylis, Rebecca ; Ekdahl, Johanna ; Haines, Helen and Rubertsson, Christine LU (2020) In Women and Birth 33(3). p.227-233
Abstract

Background: Fear of Birth is common in pregnant women and associated with negative physical and mental health. There is a clear comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been suggested as a treatment option for Fear of Birth and a randomized controlled trial comparing internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with midwifery led counselling as standard care has been conducted. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe women's experiences of guided internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth and to describe the content of their fear. Methods: The present study is a qualitative, follow-up interview study following the randomized controlled trial, the U-CARE... (More)

Background: Fear of Birth is common in pregnant women and associated with negative physical and mental health. There is a clear comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been suggested as a treatment option for Fear of Birth and a randomized controlled trial comparing internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with midwifery led counselling as standard care has been conducted. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe women's experiences of guided internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth and to describe the content of their fear. Methods: The present study is a qualitative, follow-up interview study following the randomized controlled trial, the U-CARE Pregnancy Trial. In total 19 women allocated to internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth were interviewed by telephone. A semi-structured interview guide was used and the transcripts were analyzed with thematic analysis. Results: The women's descriptions of Fear of Birth differed, however their fear was most often associated with fear of losing control, fear for the baby's life or health or own life threatening events. The experiences of internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth varied, some women were positive to its flexibility although most women preferred a face-to face meeting. The treatment did not pin-point their fears, it was challenging to maintain motivation and to work with the treatment in solitude. Conclusions: Women's descriptions of Fear of Birth varied. Most women undergoing internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy would have preferred a face-to-face meeting which they imagined would have soothed their fear. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth may be an alternative for some women.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Fear of Birth, iCBT, Women's experiences
in
Women and Birth
volume
33
issue
3
pages
227 - 233
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:31160244
  • scopus:85066308854
ISSN
1871-5192
DOI
10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0f6564c7-1bfb-46bb-8b5b-e6b338bb853d
date added to LUP
2019-06-14 14:24:19
date last changed
2024-05-29 13:17:05
@article{0f6564c7-1bfb-46bb-8b5b-e6b338bb853d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Fear of Birth is common in pregnant women and associated with negative physical and mental health. There is a clear comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been suggested as a treatment option for Fear of Birth and a randomized controlled trial comparing internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with midwifery led counselling as standard care has been conducted. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe women's experiences of guided internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth and to describe the content of their fear. Methods: The present study is a qualitative, follow-up interview study following the randomized controlled trial, the U-CARE Pregnancy Trial. In total 19 women allocated to internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth were interviewed by telephone. A semi-structured interview guide was used and the transcripts were analyzed with thematic analysis. Results: The women's descriptions of Fear of Birth differed, however their fear was most often associated with fear of losing control, fear for the baby's life or health or own life threatening events. The experiences of internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth varied, some women were positive to its flexibility although most women preferred a face-to face meeting. The treatment did not pin-point their fears, it was challenging to maintain motivation and to work with the treatment in solitude. Conclusions: Women's descriptions of Fear of Birth varied. Most women undergoing internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy would have preferred a face-to-face meeting which they imagined would have soothed their fear. Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Fear of Birth may be an alternative for some women.</p>}},
  author       = {{Baylis, Rebecca and Ekdahl, Johanna and Haines, Helen and Rubertsson, Christine}},
  issn         = {{1871-5192}},
  keywords     = {{Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Fear of Birth; iCBT; Women's experiences}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{227--233}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Women and Birth}},
  title        = {{Women's experiences of internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (iCBT) for Fear of Birth}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.006}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.006}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}