The Stony Brook University Calm-Mom Study

August 18, 2026 updated by: Brittain Lynn Mahaffey, Stony Brook University

An Internet-Delivered Mind-Body Program for Reducing Prenatal Maternal Stress

The present trial will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of 2 different internet-delivered programs for prenatal maternal stress. The Stress Managment and Resiliency Training Program (SMART-Mom program), an 8-session Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) based mind body program and the Mama Support Program, an 8-session social support group program. Sixty pregnant women (<20 weeks Estimated Gestational Age) will be screened and either enrolled in the online SMART Mom Program or the Mama Support Program. Outcomes, including maternal perceived stress, depression, and anxiety will be assessed at post-treatment, three, and six months post program completion. Potential impact on infant health outcomes will be assessed via post-delivery electronic medical record review.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Aim 1: The investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT; n=60) to assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the Stress Management and Resillency Training program (SMART Pregnancy) delivered online versus a time and attention matched prenatal support group (Mama Support). It is expected that SMART-pregnancy participants will demonstrate high levels of treatment engagement and adherence. It is predicted that participants in the SMART-Pregnancy condition will demonstrate improvements in emotional distress and stress regulation (as indexed by hair cortisol concentrations) at post-treatment and 3 month follow-up. Aim 2: The investigators will conduct a postnatal chart review to explore secondary treatment benefits including pre-and postnatal maternal health and birth outcomes.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
63

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Stony Brook, New York, United States, 11794
        • Stony Brook University, Department of Psychiatry

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • <21 weeks pregnant with medically confirmed viability
  • Speak, read and write in English fluently,
  • Endorse elevated levels of prenatal maternal stress (PNMS; i.e., New Prenatal Distress Questionnaire Score > 19).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current enrollment in individual or group psychotherapy
  • Current un-managed serious mental illness including bipolar disorder and psychosis
  • History of previous suicide attempt
  • Inappropriate for participation in group therapy format as determined by study director

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention
Participants (n = 30) will be randomized to receive the SMART Pregnancy stress management program via an online portal.
Behavioral: SMART Mom
SMART Pregnancy is an 8-session online stress management program offered in a group format. SMART Pregnancy is an adaptation of the Stress Management and Resiliency Training Program (Park et al., 2012).
Active Comparator: Treatment as usual
Participants (n = 30) will be randomized to receive treatment as usual, including referrals to community based support groups and individual mental health providers.
Behavioral: Mama Support
Participants will be enrolled in an 8-week time and attention matched, process-based support group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Perceived Stress as Indexed by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) Score
Time Frame: T1 (treatment session 1/enrollment date, occurred within <2 weeks of baseline T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment).
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is the gold standard measure of subjective stress experiences. Total scores range from 0 to 40; higher scores indicate greater stress or a worse outcome.
T1 (treatment session 1/enrollment date, occurred within <2 weeks of baseline T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment).
Change in Prenatal Maternal Distress as Indexed by the New Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ) Score
Time Frame: T0 (baseline), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
The New Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ) is a measure of prenatal maternal psychological distress. Total scores range form 0-35; higher scores indicate greater pregnancy-related distress.
T0 (baseline), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient Health Questionnaire. PHQ-9.
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PhQ-9) is a standardized depression symptom measure. Scores range from 0-27, higher scores indicate greater depression symptoms.
Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder -7 Item (GAD-7).
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder -7 item is a standardized anxiety symptom measure. Scores range from 0-21, higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptoms.
Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R)
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
Widely used mindfulness measure; total scores range from 12-60; higher scores represent greater mindfulness.
Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
Measure of Current Status-Form A (MOCS-A)
Time Frame: Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).
The Measure of Current Status-Form A (MOCS-A) is a measure of stress-related coping. Total scores range from 0-52; higher scores represent better coping.
Baseline (T0), T2 mid-treatment (4 weeks post enrollment), T3 post treatment (8 weeks post enrollment), T4 delayed follow up (20 weeks post enrollment). Not assessed at T1 (Enrollment, <2 weeks post T0).

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Birthweight
Time Frame: Chart review occurring at 6 week postpartum visit.
Infant weight (in grams) at birth.
Chart review occurring at 6 week postpartum visit.
Gestational Age
Time Frame: Chart review occurring at 6 week postpartum visit.
Infant gestational age (in weeks) at birth.
Chart review occurring at 6 week postpartum visit.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Stony Brook University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Massachusetts General Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Brittain L Mahaffey, PhD, Stony Brook University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 9, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 11, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 12, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 18, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 972565-4
  • K23HD092888 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The investigators are committed to sharing the research data that is generated in this proposal. Research data will be shared according to NIH guidelines. All research data is collected and stored in accordance with HIPAA compliance, and any shared datasets resulting from human participant research will be free of any identifiers that would allow disclosure of individual subjects.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Timelines for distribution of data will vary, however the study team will make every effort to make data available in a timely fashion. It is expected that data from this proposal will presented at scientific meetings, and publications will be made available through PubMed Central no later than 12 months after publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The data will be available to users under a data sharing agreement that includes a commitment to: 1) using the data for research purposes only, 2) properly securing the data in accordance with HIPAA compliance requirements, and 3) destroying the data after analyses are completed.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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