Culturally Adapted Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Perinatal Depression and Anxiety: A Case Study

Low-income Black perinatal individuals are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality and poor mental health outcomes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and the Mothers and Babies Course have been shown to be effective interventions for the treatment and prevention of perinatal mental health disorders. This article describes the treatment of a 30-year-old Caribbean-American Black immigrant participant with significant perinatal anxiety and birth-related trauma, randomized to the intervention arm, who received individualized CBT-based treatment within the Mommy&Me study, a two-arm pragmatic randomized controlled trial that combined patient navigation with culturally adapted CBT. The intervention was delivered across 12 sessions spanning the prenatal-postnatal period, with outcomes assessments of anxiety, depression, and stress measures. Patient navigation and peer-led support group sessions were integrated throughout treatment, along with collaborative coordination of care with community mental health resources during periods of increased symptom severity. By the end of treatment, the participant demonstrated a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms and perceived stress severity. This case highlights the importance of integrating evidence-based interventions with collaborative care and community-based supports among underserved perinatal populations.