Health · Mental Health · 9 hrs ago
Online therapy reduced anxiety among pregnant people in clinical trial
A clinical trial led by King's College London tested RELAX, an online therapy for pregnant people with anxiety symptoms.
The study included 268 participants who had up to moderate anxiety and high levels of repetitive negative thinking, but were not necessarily diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Half received 12 online sessions over four weeks alongside usual maternity care, while the others received usual care alone.
Those who received RELAX had lower anxiety before and after birth, as well as lower depression and repetitive negative thinking, compared with the usual-care group.
Anxiety affects one in five pregnant women or birthing people and can be linked with risks for parents and children.
The findings suggest RELAX could help stop anxiety from worsening in people who may not otherwise receive mental health support.
The researchers say adding the therapy to maternity care could reach more people, but the trial does not say whether that will happen.
A clinical trial found that a self-led online therapy reduced anxiety among pregnant participants compared with usual care.
The RELAX therapy also reduced depression and repetitive negative thinking before and after birth.
The trial involved 268 participants, with 134 assigned to the therapy alongside usual care.
Participants completed 12 brief online sessions over four weeks.
The study was led by King’s College London and published in JAMA Network Open.
- Who
- The trial involved pregnant people with high repetitive negative thinking and up to moderate anxiety. It was led by King’s College London.
- What
- The RELAX online therapy reduced anxiety compared with usual care.
- When
- The article was published on 2026-11-04. The trial dates are not stated.
- Where
- The therapy was delivered online. The study was led by King’s College London.
- Why
- The trial tested whether RELAX could prevent anxiety from increasing during pregnancy and after birth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Participants assigned to RELAX completed 12 brief online sessions while continuing usual care.
The trial found lower anxiety, depression and repetitive negative thinking among participants who received RELAX compared with usual care.
News-Medical published an account of the trial results.
- Participants
- 268 in total
- RELAX group
- 134 participants
- Therapy duration
- 12 online sessions over four weeks
- Study
- REducing Levels of AnXiety (RELAX)
- Publication
- JAMA Network Open
What people are saying
This is the first study to show that a digital therapy addressing this type of thinking prevents the increase of anxiety during pregnancy.
I found that's had quite a big impact on me actually…I'm finding that I'm coping much better with the worries that I am having...