Brief Cognitive Behavioral Intervention in Groups in a Brazilian Assisted Reproduction Program

Abstract

The study's objective was to assess the effect of a cognitive behavioral group intervention on the pregnancy rates of patients submitted to in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques or to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The study was conducted on 188 patients, 93 who participated in a group of psychological intervention before the IVF and ICSI procedures and 95 patients submitted to IVF and ICSI during the same period of time, who did not participate in the intervention (control group). Clinical pregnancy was the outcome measure. Demographic and clinical variables were compared between groups in order to assess the group's homogeneity. Participants in the psychological intervention obtained a pregnancy rate of 39.8%, significantly higher than the 23.2% rate of nonparticipants (χ 2 = 6.03, p = .01, odds ratio of 22 (CI: 1.16-4.13). The data suggest that group psychological intervention before IVF and ICSI in order to control stress seems to increase the rate of success of these procedures.

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of nonpharmacological adjuvant interventions for patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment

“…A total of 34 studies with 7213 patients overall were included in both the qualitative and the quantitative synthesis (Fig. ).…”

“…Anxiety, depression, and infertility distress were the most common psychological disorders before the beginning of ART treatment. In most studies, female patients were the only population under investigation, but six studies also reported the effect of nonpharmacological interventions on emotional ratings in male patients.…”

The Partnership and Coping Enhancement Programme for couples undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment: the development of a complex intervention in China

“…A variety of psychosocial interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy [9][10][11], mind body intervention [12][13][14], counselling [15][16][17][18] and positive reappraisal coping therapy [19,20], have been adopted to improve the mental health, pregnancy rates and marital function of couples who undergo IVF treatment. However, in a review of the literature, the effects of relevant interventions tested in randomized controlled trial studies could not be confirmed due to methodological or practical issues [21].…”

The Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Body Image in Infertile Women

“…The psychometric features of the questionnaire have been approved in Iran (27,28). 2 Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2017; 19(10):e14903.…”

“…It is defined as failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months (or more) of regular unprotected sexual intercourse (2). According to statistics reported by the world health organization (WHO), more than 70 million people (1 out of 6 couples) around the world and over 1.5 million couples in Iran suffer from infertility (3).…”