Engage & Connect: A Novel Social Reward Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Postpartum Depression
- Sponsor
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 7 months ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This randomized controlled trial compares a novel psychotherapy, Engage & Connect, with a Symptom Review and Psychoeducation intervention, tailored to reduce postpartum depression. The study includes 9-weeks interventions, delivered remotely. It will examine changes in social isolation, processing of social rewards and depression severity over 9 weeks of treatment.
Detailed Description
Postpartum depression is linked with decreased motivation to seek rewarding activities and enjoyment of pleasurable experiences. Social isolation and low perceived social support predict persistence of postpartum depression. Engagement in rewarding social activities with significant others may increase motivation and enjoyment, motivating utilization of a therapy that addresses social isolation and reward response. The investigators developed Engage \& Connect (E\&C), a 9-week psychotherapy program that focuses on increasing meaningful social activities with significant others. This study will be a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial that will compare the 9-week E\&C course for mothers with postpartum depression with a Symptom Review and Psychoeducation condition (SRP) for mothers with postpartum depression.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Up to 1 year post-delivery
- •Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥
- •Off antidepressants or on a stable dose of an antidepressant for 8 weeks and do not intend to change the dose in the next 10 weeks.
- •Capacity to provide consent for research assessment and treatment.
- •Speaks English proficiently
Exclusion Criteria
- •Intent or plan to attempt suicide in the near future
- •Ongoing psychotherapy (no more than once every 8 weeks or during the duration of the intervention)
- •Active substance abuse or dependence
- •Severe fetal anomalies, stillbirth or infant death at time of enrollment for index pregnancy
- •History or presence of psychiatric diagnoses other than major depressive disorder without psychotic features, generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, or specific phobia.
- •Use of psychotropic drugs or cholinesterase inhibitors other than use of ≤ 0.5 mg of lorazepam daily up to seven times per week.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Time Frame: the EPDS will be measured Weekly for 9 weeks
Measure of depression Severity. Scores range from 0 (no depression severity) to 30 (high depression severity)
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS)(Baseline, Early Treatment (Week 3), Mid-treatment (Week 6) and Post Treatment (Week 9))
- Change in Social Reward Processing on STAR task(Baseline, Early Treatment (Week 3), Mid-treatment (Week 6) and Post Treatment (Week 9))