BackgroundIn this preliminary study, we examined the effect of acupressure, acupuncture and moxibustion (oriental treatments) to prevent of the relapse/deterioration of perinatal depression in women with pregnancy-related anxiety and previous depression.Methods and resultsBetween 2014 and 2016, there were 48 women with pregnancy-related anxiety and previous depression who had delivery at ≥ 22 weeks’ gestation in our institute. Of these, oriental treatments were performed in eight and two women (totally 10, 21%) during pregnancy and postpartum, respectively. One of the 10 (10%) who received oriental treatments admitted depressive symptoms during pregnancy or postpartum, while 18 of the rest 38 who did not receive oriental treatments admitted depressive symptoms (47%, P = 0.065).ConclusionThe oriental treatments may be useful for pregnant women who need perinatal mental health care.

Aim Women suffering from perinatal depression often have not noticed their mental condition, they often present with unspecified somatic complaints. Therefore, we examined the presence or absence of unspecified somatic complaints and the variability in complaints in women with perinatal depression who visited the Department of Oriental Medicine (DOM) at our Japanese perinatal center. Methods The material reviewed consisted of the total population of Japanese women who visited our institute for a perinatal visit and underwent delivery at ≥37 weeks gestation at our institute between 2015 and 2018. We examined the DOM consultation rate, number and duration of visits to the DOM, presence or absence of unspecified somatic complaints (general malaise), and presence or absence of frequently changing complaints in the women with and without perinatal depression. Results The DOM consultation rate in women with perinatal depression was significantly higher than in those without perinatal depression (odds ratio 5.02, 75% confidence interval 3.2–7.6, P < 0.01). The rate of unspecified somatic complaints and frequently changing complaints in women with perinatal depression were significantly higher than those without perinatal depression (unspecified somatic complaints: 44% vs. 10%, odds ratio 5.79, 75% confidence interval 2.6–13, P < 0.01; frequently changing complaints: 33% vs. 4%, odds ratio 12.7, 75% confidence interval 5.0–33, P < 0.01). Conclusion To improve the recognition and management practices of perinatal depression, a standardized training will be needed on how to communicate in order to understand the mental problems in pregnant women concerning atypical symptoms of depression and unspecified somatic complaints.