Effect of Hope-oriented group counseling on mental health of infertile women with failed IVF cycles: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Considering the prevalence of infertility in the community and the consequences of failure of infertility treatments on women’s mental health, interventions that can control stress, anxiety and depression in infertile women with a history of IVF failure will be very helpful. This study aimed to determine the effects of hope-oriented group counseling on mental health (primary outcome) and quality of life (QoL) (secondary outcome) of women with failed IVF cycles. Method This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with failed IVF cycles visiting Infertility Clinic at Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital of Tabriz- Iran. Participants were allocated to the intervention group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) based on a randomized block design. Hope-oriented group counseling was provided to the intervention group in six 45–60 min sessions (once a week). The control group only received routine care to undergo another IVF cycle. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the SF-12 Quality of Life Scale were filled out by interviewing the participants before the intervention and one week and one month after the intervention. After intervention 26 participants in each group were included in the analysis. Results There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the socio-demographic profile of participants (P > 0.05). The post-intervention mean score of stress (adjusted mean difference = − 1.7, 95% confidence interval: − 3.2 to − 0.3, P = 0.018) and depression (adjusted mean difference = − 1.3, 95% confidence interval: − 4.7 to − 1.5, P < 0.001) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control. Although the mean anxiety score was lower in the intervention group compared to the control, the difference between them was not statistically significant (adjusted mean difference = − 1.1, 95% confidence interval: − 2.6 to 0.4, P = 0.153). The mean score of QoL was significantly higher in the intervention group than that of the control group (adjusted mean difference = 6.9, 95% confidence interval: 5.1 to 8.8, P < 0.001). Conclusion Hope-oriented group counseling was effective in reducing stress and depression and improving QoL in women with failed IVF cycles. It is recommended to use this counseling approach, along with other methods, to improve the mental health of women with failed IVF cycles. Trial registration TCT Registration Number: TCTR 20191017003, registered on October 17, 2019.

Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Tools to Reduce Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…We assessed the effects of DMH intervention compared with control groups with a mean (SD) from 80 studies (67 records for depression and 65 records for anxiety; Figure 2 [ 26 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 35 - 39 , 44 - 47 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 59 - 61 , 63 , 65 , 68 - 78 , 80 , 82 - 84 , 86 - 88 , 90 , 91 , 93 , 95 , 97 - 101 , 106 , 107 , 109 , 111 , 113 , 115 , 117 , 119 - 121 ] and Figure 3 [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 35 - 38 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 48 - 50 , 52 , 55 - 59 , 61 , 62 , 68 , 69 , 72 - 74 , 78 , 80 , 82 - 84 , 86 , 88 , 89 , ...…”

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the COMPI Fertility Problem Stress Scale—Short Form for infertile women

“…Active stress management has no significant impact on the pregnancy rate, 22 but it can reduce the rate of withdrawal from fertility treatment 5 and the rate of miscarriage after transplantation 23 . Hope‐oriented group counseling, 24 cognitive behavioral therapy‐based counseling, 25 interactive music therapy, 26 deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation 27 were used for stress management in previous studies. These treatments have shown significant effects on improving the stress perception of infertile people and reducing the stress biomarker index.…”

Mental health status and the quality of life of infertile women receiving fertility treatment in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

“…Moreover, the experience of infertility is characterized by a prolonged and often uncertain journey, laden with medical procedures, treatment failures, and dashed hopes. This uncertain trajectory contributes to a heightened state of stress and anxiety, which can lead to an enduring state of heightened stress levels, further exacerbating the psychological strain [ 36 ].…”