Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The Effect of Counseling with Skills Training Approach on Maternal Functioning: a  
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial  
 
Version: 0 Date: 11 Dec 2019  
 
Reviewer: Valentina Lucia La Rosa  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I read with great interest the Manuscript titled "The Effect of Counseling with Skills Training 
Approach on Maternal Functioning: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial" (BMWH -D-19-
00761).       
 
In my honest opinion, the topic  is interesting enough to attract the readers' attention. The work is 
scientifically sound, data collection, methodology and the type of statistical analysis are 
excellent. Nevertheless, authors should clarify some point and improve the discussion citing 
relevant and novel key articles about the topic.  
 
 
 
Authors should consider the following recommendations:  
 
- Manuscript should be further revised by a native English speaker.  
 
 
- Mood disorders, in particular anger and depression, may both arise during pregnan cy and 
in the postpartum period. In this scenario, the pharmacological non -pharmacological 
management of these conditions requires peculiar expertise. Authors should discuss this 
point, referring to: PMID: 28005135; PMID: 15691224.  
 
 
- A recent study by Brun o et al. (J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017 Aug 11:1 -6. doi: 
10.1080/14767058.2017.1362554) underline that anger experience and expression can be 
considered as vulnerability factors for maternal mood disorders. I suggest the Authors 
comment this point refe rring to their clinical experience and to the results of their study.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify  which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manusc ript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
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CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editor s, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal