Effect of acupressure on post natal depression / Marina Nasser Lahzy Salama ; Supervised Hala Mohamed Hanfy Omara , Hossam Eldin Hussein Kamel , Marwa Esmael Hasanin

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Gynecology and Obstetrics

Background: Postpartum depression is a common problem, affecting many women within a year of giving birth. It's important to treat postpartum depression as it could last months or get worse and have a significant impact on patients, and the whole family. Purpose of the study: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of acupressure on postpartum depression.Subjects:forty volunteer patients had postpartum depression participated in this study, Their ages ranged from 20 to 30 years.They were selectedduring the first year after delivery from obstetrics, gynecology and psychiatry outpatient clinics at KASR EL AINI Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Methods: All patients in both groups (A & B) were assessed byZungself rating depression scalebefore and after treatment period. They were randomly distributed into two equal groups: Group (A) (Study group): consisted of 20 patients. They received acupressure sessionsonLu1, GV20&GB20 acupoints three times a week, daily home program and routine care for four weeks, Group (B) (Control group): consisted of 20 patients.They only receivedroutine care& acted as a control group.Results:There was a statistical significant decrease in the values of Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) in Group A (Study group) (56.88 ± 9.68) when compared with its corresponding value in Group B (Control group) (72.69 ± 8.79).Conclusion:On the basis of this study, it could be concluded that acupressure was effective in improving postpartum depression

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