Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of "Mindful Moms": A Mindful Physical Activity Intervention for Pregnant Women with Depression.

This was a small pilot: 27 women completed the intervention and all surveys, so it is not powered to prove effects. The intervention group was self-selected and not randomised, so expectation bias and baseline differences may explain changes. The comparison group came from an earlier observational study, received usual care without the same staff attention, and was assessed for depression with a different scale, SCL rather than PHQ-9. Many interested women were ineligible because their PHQ-9 score was below 10, and the authors note the PHQ-9 may not adequately measure distress in pregnancy. Intervention fidelity was not strictly measured with checklists or recordings of classes and nurse discussions. Some outcomes did not improve: physical activity self-efficacy showed no significant change, maternal-fetal/child attachment decreased, and stress and anxiety did not differ significantly from the positive comparison group.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The publication types indicate NIH and non-U.S. government research support.

Do not read the symptom reductions as proof that Mindful Moms treats prenatal depression. The study was a small, self-selected pilot without randomisation, the comparison group received different staff attention and was measured with a different depression scale, and some outcomes did not improve.