The Effect of Psychotherapy Interventions After Stillbirth on the Grief Process and Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to provide a systematic overview of existing quantitative research on the effects of psychotherapy interventions given to women with stillbirth on the grief process and depression in the postpartum period and to analyze the results. Four databases (PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane, Google Scholar, Web of Science) were searched between January-March 2024. Risk of bias and precision of evidence were assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool ROB-2 and ROBIN-1. Ten studies were included. Meta-analysis results showed that psychotherapeutic interventions significantly reduced the grief adaptations of mothers in the mourning process and there was a significant difference in the assessment of grief adaptation. Sub-group analyzes revealed mothers’ depression values and stress levels compared to the control groups and there was a significant difference between the groups. Psychotherapeutic interventions given to women positively affect their grief adaptation and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. PROSPERO ID: CRD42024516195