"Cognitive behavioural therapy has significant positive effects on a mothers mental health income employment and parenting skills even seven years after the birth of the child according to the first study of its kind. The international research project  https the impact of depression on pregnant mothers and their babies led by Professor Sonia Bhalotra from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex could have major implications for public policy. More than  million people worldwide report episodes of depression at a global cost of around bn in . Between  and  of women in the  countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development suffer from perinatal depression and  in poorer countries. Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT is a talking therapy that can help a person manage problems by changing how they think and behave. The NHS website explains that it is based on the concept that your thoughts feelings physical sensations and actions are interconnected and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a vicious cycle. CBT encourages people to see their problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts. While studies have highlighted the shortterm benefits of CBT until now question marks have been raised about whether it can have longterm effects. The study one of the largest randomised control trials to be held in the developing world followed women diagnosed with depression midpregnancy in  communities in rural Pakistan https Within a year more than half of the women in a control group  were still depressed whereas only a quarter of the mothers who had been treated with CBT reported depression. Returning to the women and their children seven years later researchers found that the treated mothers were still significantly less likely to be depressed than the control group. The first group were also more likely to be employed and have control over household spending. There were also big improvements in their parenting style. The study found that women who had least social support such as those who were not living with or near their mother or motherinlaw benefited most from the therapy intervention both in the short and long term. These findings on the longerterm benefits at seven years posttreatment are really exciting Bhalotra said. This is an important study for the impact on mothers with depression but there are global implications for the treatment of all human beings suffering from depression. We have seen that CBT has changed how many of the treated women live their lives now  their mental health has improved their financial situation and their empowerment over their lives and undoubtedly the way they interact with their children."