Clinical trial NCT00436150: Interpersonal Therapy-Based Treatment to Prevent Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers
Official title: Preventing Postpartum Depression in Adolescent Mothers
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Depression
Keywords: Adolescents
Depression, postpartum
Lead sponsor: Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
First posted: 2007-02-16
Enrollment: 106
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 12
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

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

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.

Eligibility criteria: 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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Postpartum depression diagnosis
timeFrame: Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Degree of depressive symptoms
timeFrame: Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum
measure: Prenatal distress
timeFrame: Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum
measure: Social support
timeFrame: Measured at pretreatment; Weeks 34 to 36 during pregnancy; hospital stay after delivery; and Weeks 6, 12, and 24 postpartum
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Providence
country: United States
facility: Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
state: Rhode Island
Study officials:
affiliation: Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
name: Maureen Phipps, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: