Selection criteria
We included randomised controlled trials from inception till December
2021 if they
(a) examined pregnant women diagnosed with a mental disorder according
to a standardized diagnostic interview based on the DSM or ICD criteria,
with clinical psychiatric symptoms according to validated mental health
questionnaires (e.g. EPDS > 10) or with two or more
psychosocial symptoms (low-income, minority status, unsafe (home)
situation, living place in a deprived area, substance abuse); (b)
evaluated a psychological or pharmacological perinatal treatment,
provided face-to-face or over the telephone by professional health
workers, with the aim to treat or prevent mental disorders; (c) reported
any of the following maternal mental health outcomes: psychiatric
symptoms (validated questionnaires, e.g. EPDS, STAI), incidence rates,
recovery rates or risk reduction of psychiatric disorders. Secondary
outcomes are any birth, neonatal, infant or biomarker outcome. A core
outcome set does not exist in this field. We excluded non-English
studies, abstracts, case reports and studies including postpartum women.
Also, studies on solely transcranial stimulation, food supplements,
eHealth, physical treatment and interventions provided by informal
health workers were excluded.