SynthesisJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2016
The effects of psychosocial interventions on the mental health, pregnancy rates, and marital function of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 62 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
62 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 164 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effects of nursing interventions on anxiety and depression in infertile females undergoing assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- A systematic review of counselling approaches and their impact on marital intimacy among women and couples experiencing infertility.BMC psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Treatment suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic and mental health of infertile patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Interventions promoting mental health dimensions in infertile women: a systematic review.BMC psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Cognitive behavioural therapy improves pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The Journal of international medical research · 2021Pooled it
- Stress management through cognitive reconstruction and positive thinking in women with recurrent failed In Vitro Fertilization: a randomized controlled trial.BMC psychiatry · 2025Trial
- Trial
- The effect of individual counseling based on the GATHER principles on perceived stress and empowerment of the mothers with high-risk pregnancies: an experimental study.BMC psychiatry · 2022Trial
- Effect of cognitive behavioral therapy-based counseling on perceived stress in pregnant women with history of primary infertility: a controlled randomized clinical trial.BMC psychiatry · 2021Trial
- Moderating Role of Psychological Flexibility in the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Perceived Stress Among Women Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization Treatment.Brain and behavior · 2026Article
- A bridge between infertility and anxiety: a novel role for genes.Reproduction & fertility · 2026Article
- Effect of Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Psychological Distress and Pregnancy Rate in Infertile Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization.Obstetrics and gynecology international · 2026Article
- A Study of Potential Classes and Trajectories of Psychological Distress in Infertility Patients: A Study Protocol.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Determinants of male fertility in the Western Pacific Region: environmental, biological, and lifestyle influences.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2025Review
- Mental health screening and psychological support should be the standard of care in fertility clinics.Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics · 2025Article
- Women's reproductive mental health: currently available evidence and future directions for research, clinical practice and health policy.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2025Article
- Medical crowdfunding for cancer patients seeking fertility treatments: a cross-sectional analysis.F&S reports · 2025Article
- Evaluation of Satisfaction With a Secure, Connected Mobile App for Women in Assisted Reproductive Technology Programs: Prospective Observational Study.JMIR human factors · 2025Observational
2 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the effects of psychosocial interventions on the mental health, pregnancy rates, and marital function of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), as determined through RCT studies.
methodsUsing the electronic databases PubMed, EMBase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and CAJ, a systematic literature search was conducted in July 2015. MeSH terms, key words, and free words such as "infertility," "fertilization in vitro," "psychotherapy," "intervention," "anxiety," "depression," and "marital satisfaction" were used to identify all potential studies. The quality of the studies that were included was assessed using the risk of bias assessment tool developed by the Cochrane Back Review Group. Descriptive analysis was adopted to synthesize the results.
resultsA total of 20 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. There were reports of positive effects on the anxiety levels, pregnancy rates, or marital function of infertile couples in six studies that adopted different psychosocial approaches, including mind body intervention (Eastern body-mind-spirit, Integrative body-mind-spirit, and Mind/body intervention), cognitive behavioral therapy, group psychotherapy, and harp therapy. However, there were methodological or practical issues related to measurement points and attrition rates in these studies. None of these interventions were found to be efficacious in relieving the depression or stress of individuals or couples undergoing IVF treatment. None of the included studies tackled or measured the mental health status of the couples during the most stressful time of waiting for the pregnancy results of their treatment.
conclusionsA complex intervention, based on sound evidence, should be developed targeting both females and males of infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment, particularly during the stressful period of waiting for the results of the pregnancy test result and after failed cycles.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.