Postpartum Depression from the Perspective of Third-Wave Psychotherapies

The pregnancy and postpartum period represent a sensitive transitional phase characterized by significant physiological and psychological changes in women’s lives, during which various psychological issues may emerge. A psychological condition frequently encountered in this period is postpartum depression. This may directly affect maternal health and adversely influence the infant and the mother-infant interaction. Among treatment options, psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatments are prominent, with especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy being widely preferred approaches for addressing this disorder. However, both therapeutic methods have certain limitations. Given the limitations of existing treatment methods, there is a pressing need for more effective and innovative intervention approaches to address this disorder. In this context, third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies offer new treatment alternatives that have the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional therapeutic approaches. In this review, postpartum depression is examined from the perspective of third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies. The main findings regarding the intervention processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Metacognitive Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapies, and Compassion-Focused Therapy are discussed. As a result, with third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches the negative effects of pregnancy and the postpartum period on women could be alleviated by working on issues such as acceptance of emotions, ruminative thinking, emotion regulation skills, and increasing awareness of internal processes.