Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Delivered Over the Internet for Women With Postpartum Depression

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Postpartum Depression
• Interventions: Behavioral: Web-based CBT for PPD

• Registration Number: NCT00942721
• Lead Sponsor: Oregon Research Institute

Brief Summary

This study will develop and test a Web-based program to treat women with postpartum depression.

Detailed Description

After a woman gives birth, she will often feel anxious, depressed, or upset. For most women, these feelings go away within a week of giving birth, but for some, postpartum depression (PPD) can develop. PPD involves long-term, more severe feelings of anxiety, depression, and despair that impair normal functioning. Untreated PPD threatens both the mental health of mothers and the development of their infants, but many cases go untreated. This may be because of the stigma of mental health treatment, limited availability of programs, cost of treatment, or difficulty finding the time to schedule trips out of the home. Treatment through a Web-based program addresses all these concerns by providing a private, cost-efficient program available anywhere with computer access. This study will develop and test a Web-based version of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat women with PPD to determine its feasibility and acceptability.

Participation in this study will last 3 months. All participants will be offered a Web-based version of CBT for PPD. The CBT program will include guided behavioral strategies for dealing with depression, online videos of women who have used these strategies, Web forums in which participants can ask questions of peers and experts, and periodic phone coaching. The program will last 6 weeks. All participants will complete assessments at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Safety monitoring questionnaires will also be completed at Weeks 2 and 4 of treatment. Assessments will include clinical interviews and questionnaires related to the following: health; depression; demographics; maternal skills, stress, and self-efficacy; Internet use, experience, and self-efficacy; behavioral self-efficacy; and program acceptability.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-07-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-07-20
• Study First Posted: 2009-07-21
• Study Start: 2009-10
• Primary Completion: 2013-04
• Study Completion: 2013-04
• Status Verified: 2013-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-11-21
• Last Update Posted: 2013-11-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 53

Inclusion Criteria

• Within 6 months postpartum
• Home access to the Internet
• Use of personal e-mail
• Score from 12 to 20, inclusive, on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
• Diagnosed as having postpartum depression

Exclusion Criteria

• Current diagnosis of substance abuse, bipolar disorder, or psychotic depression
• Currently receiving treatment for depressive symptoms, including antidepressant medication or psychotherapy
• Currently has suicidal intentionality, lethality, access to means, and history of suicide attempts

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Web-based CBT for PPD	Web-based CBT for PPD	Participants will receive Web-based CBT for PPD.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Acceptability and feasibility of the Web-based treatment program for women with postpartum depression	Measured 3 and 6 months postpartum
Clinical utility of the program in ameliorating postpartum depression symptoms	Measured 3 and 6 months postpartum

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Women's characteristics that moderate the impact of the program	Measured 3 and 6 months postpartum

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Oregon Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Eugene, Oregon, United States

University of Melbourne; 🇦🇺 Heidelberg Heights, Victoria, Australia

University of Iowa; 🇺🇸 Iowa City, Iowa, United States