Group Therapy for Postpartum Depression

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Depression, Postpartum
• Interventions: Behavioral: Mother-Infant Group Psychotherapy; Behavioral: Interpersonal Psychotherapy

• Registration Number: NCT00051246
• Lead Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Brief Summary

This study will compare standard individual treatment to group therapy for the treatment of postpartum depression.

Detailed Description

Ten to twenty percent of new mothers experience major depression in the postpartum period or postpartum depression (PPD). This condition poses a risk for disturbances in the mother-infant relationship as well as for developmental delays and subsequent psychopathology in their children. Thus, and investigation of the efficacy of a relational approach that focuses on improving the mother's sense of competence in the parenting role, and reducing depressive symptoms and social isolation through group therapy is warranted.

Patients are randomly assigned to either relational group treatment or to standard individual treatment. Assessments of maternal and infant functioning, mother-infant and father-infant relations, parenting stress, and marital conflict and conducted pre- and post-treatment, at 12 months post-treatment, and when infants are 12 and 24 months of age.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2002-01
• Study First Submitted: 2003-01-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2003-01-07
• Study First Posted: 2003-01-08
• Primary Completion: 2008-07
• Study Completion: 2008-07
• Status Verified: 2014-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-01-23
• Last Update Posted: 2014-01-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 147

Inclusion Criteria

• Major depression with an infant under 7 months of age

Exclusion Criteria

• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Organic brain syndrome
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Current psychosis or mania
• Lifetime history of mental retardation
• Current alcohol or substance abuse
• Cognitive disability
• Infants born more than 6 weeks premature or with major medical conditions or developmental disabilities

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1 M-ITG	Mother-Infant Group Psychotherapy	Mother-infant group psychotherapy
2 - IPT	Interpersonal Psychotherapy	Individual interpersonal psychotherapy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction of depression as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD)	Measured at post-treatment and Month 12 follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improvement in parent-infant interactions as measured by the Early Relational Assessment (ERA)	Measured at post-treatment, Month 12 follow-up, and 12 and 24 months of age

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Wisconsin Dept. of Psychiatry; 🇺🇸 Madison, Wisconsin, United States