Illness perceptions and depression severity were reassessed at
4 weeks follow-up. However, a longer follow-up period would
allow further exploration of the relationship between illness
perceptions and depression severity and changes in illness
perceptions over time. At follow-up, there was some decline in
PHQ-9 scores, yet mothers were still experiencing moderate
depression severity and IPQ-R scores remained relatively stable.
Longitudinal intervention studies (where illness beliefs are the
target of intervention) may help determine the nature of the
relationships between illness perceptions and depression severity
and also explore how illness perceptions change over time.