Insomnia symptoms are common during peripartum and are considered a critical risk factor for postpartum psychopathology. Sleep is particularly vulnerable during pregnancy and postnatal period and its alterations are associated with risks for mental health. Nonetheless, often insomnia disorder during pregnancy doesn’t receive appropriate clinical attention, with consequent lack of proper treatment offer. Evaluation and treatment of insomnia during the prenatal period should be a priority in the clinical practice and should consider the whole family context. Cognitive-behavioral treatment is recognized as first line intervention for insomnia disorder from international guidelines. Many authors highlighted that during pregnancy and during the first months of child’s life psychotherapy seems to be more adequate and more favorably accepted from patients than pharmacological treatment. This is also linked with possible negative consequences associated to the assumption of drugs, both for the fetus and the newborn. The aim of this paper is to examine in depth, through a narrative review, the importance of a correct evaluation of the insomnia disorder during the prenatal period and the characteristics of cognitive- behavioral therapy..
Key words: insomnia, psychopathology, perinatal, pregnancy, evaluation, treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), maternal mental health
DOI: 10.36131/COGNCL20230107
