Guided web app intervention for reducing symptoms of depression in postpartum women: Results of a feasibility randomized controlled trial

Chile faces a significant postpartum depression prevalence and treatment gap, necessitating accessible interventions. While cognitive-behavioral internet-based interventions have proven effective in high-income countries, this field is underdeveloped in Chile. Based on the country's widespread use of digital technology, a guided 8-week cognitive-behavioral web app intervention named “ Mamá, te entiendo ” was developed. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of “ Mamá, te entiendo ”, for reducing depressive symptomatology in postpartum women. Sixty-five postpartum women with minor or major depression were randomly assigned to either intervention or waitlist. Primary outcomes centered on study feasibility, intervention feasibility, and acceptability. Semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample enriched the understanding of participants' experiences. Secondary outcomes included mental health variables assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Chilean women displayed great interest in the intervention. 44.8 % of participants completed the intervention. Participants reported high satisfaction and engagement levels, with interviewees highlighting the value of the intervention's content, exercises, and therapist's feedback. However, preliminary efficacy analysis didn't reveal a significant interaction between group and time for outcome measures. This research represents a pioneering effort in Chile to evaluate an internet-based intervention for postpartum depression symptoms. The demonstrated feasibility and acceptability highlight the potential of integrating technology-driven approaches into mental health interventions. However, the intervention did not demonstrate superiority, as both groups exhibited similar positive progress in several outcomes. Therefore, the following research phase should involve a larger and more diverse sample to assess the intervention's effectiveness, identify influencing factors, and determine the individuals who benefit the most. • Addresses Chile's significant treatment gap and high prevalence of postpartum depression • Introduces Chile's first internet-based intervention targeting postpartum depression symptoms • Demonstrates strong interest and satisfaction among Chilean postpartum women in the intervention • Achieved a 44.8 % completion rate among participants in the intervention • Both intervention and waitlist groups showed improvement in most mental health outcomes over time.