Interpersonal Therapy-Based Treatment to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers

Preventing Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers

This study will aim to prevent postpartum depression in pregnant teenagers through an interpersonal therapy-based program.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Interpersonal therapy-based treatment; Behavioral: Standard care

Detailed Description

Postpartum depression is believed to be one of the most common complications after pregnancy. This type of depression often occurs within the first year after the baby is born and is most likely caused by dramatic changes in hormone levels after pregnancy. Pregnant teenagers are even more at risk for experiencing complications throughout pregnancy and parenting difficulties after delivery. Minimal research has been done on preventive ways to reduce postpartum depression in teenagers. Therefore, this study will evaluate the effectiveness of an interpersonal therapy-based program at preventing postpartum depression in financially disadvantaged pregnant teenagers.

Participants will first undergo a 15-minute interview about their background and emotions. Participants will undergo a second interview and then be randomly assigned to receive either interpersonal therapy-based treatment or standard care. Participants assigned to receive interpersonal therapy-based treatment will focus on the psychological aspects of pregnancy and factors that may play a role in the development of postpartum depression in teenage mothers, such as poor social support, role transitions, and life stressors. Participants assigned to receive standard care will focus more on the health issues associated with pregnancy and postpartum. Both groups will attend weekly 1-hour sessions for 5 weeks. Homework may be assigned to review topics discussed, and all participants will receive the book Baby Basics. Following treatment, participants will meet with researchers again when they are 34 to 36 weeks pregnant; in the hospital after the baby is born; and 6, 12, and 24 weeks after the baby is born.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 106
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Rhode Island
    • Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02905
      • Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 18 years (ADULT, CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Less than 24 weeks pregnant
• Not currently being treated for depression
• Speaks and reads English fluently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently receiving mental health services from a health care provider
• Meets DSM-IV criteria for an affective disorder, substance use disorder, or psychosis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: A; Participants will receive interpersonal therapy-based treatment	Behavioral: Interpersonal therapy-based treatment; Participants assigned to receive interpersonal therapy-based treatment will focus on the psychological aspects of pregnancy and factors that may play a role in the development of postpartum depression in teenage mothers, such as poor social support, role transitions, and life stressors. Both groups will attend weekly 1-hour sessions for 5 weeks.; Other Names: REACH
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: B; Participants will receive standard care	Behavioral: Standard care; Participants assigned to receive standard care will focus more on the health issues associated with pregnancy and postpartum. Both groups will attend weekly 1-hour sessions for 5 weeks.; Other Names: Baby Basics

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Postpartum depression diagnosis	Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Degree of depressive symptoms	Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum
Prenatal distress	Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum
Social support	Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Maureen Phipps, MD, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): September 1, 2009
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): September 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 14, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2007
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): February 16, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): March 12, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 8, 2013
• Last Verified: March 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Adolescents; Depression, postpartum
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Puerperal Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Depression, Postpartum
• Other Study ID Numbers: R34MH077588 (NIH); DSIR 84-CTP (NIH)