Effect of Home-Based Peer Support on Maternal-Infant Interaction and Postpartum Depression

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The objective of this study is to examine the impact of a home-based peer support intervention for mothers affected by postpartum depression (PPD) and for their infants.

Detailed Description
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This controlled study will help establish the link between support for maternal caregiving, maternal-infant interaction, infant neuroendocrinology and infant cognitive and social development. The primary hypothesis predicts that home-based peer support will improve maternal-infant interactions. Secondary hypotheses predict that home-based peer support will: improve infants' cognitive development; improve infants' social development; decrease average daily salivary cortisol levels in infants; reduce maternal depressive symptomatology; and improve maternal perceptions of social support.

Official Title
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An RCT to Evaluate the Effect of Home-Based Peer Support on Maternal-Infant Interaction, Infant Health Outcomes, and Postpartum Depression

Conditions
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Postpartum Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: mci guidance peer support


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Eligible mothers will be identified as experiencing symptoms of PPD and scores >12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Mothers must speak English or French. Mothers will not be excluded for taking anti-depressant or anti-psychotic medication, using other interventions for PPD, or reporting a history of mental illness; The infant must be full-term, in the care of the mother and between 3 to 6 months of age at initial enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: Infants who have been admitted to the NICU Infants will be excluded if medicated with corticosteroids
Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: mci guidance & peer social support<br>home visits to promote maternal-child interaction & social support | Behavioral: mci guidance peer support<br>* 12 weeks of home visits by peer mentor recovered from PPD and Keys to Caregiving (NCAST, 1990) program<br>|
| Sham Comparator: peer social support<br>social support | Behavioral: mci guidance peer support<br>* 12 weeks of home visits by peer mentor recovered from PPD and Keys to Caregiving (NCAST, 1990) program<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| maternal-infant interaction |  | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cognitive development |  | 12 months | 
| social development |  | 12 months | 
| salivary cortisol |  | 12 months | 
| depressive symptomatology |  | 12 months | 
| social support |  | 12 months |