Reaching Calm: A Digital Intervention to Prevent Perinatal Anxiety Disorders

Perinatal anxiety disorders affect up to one in five women during pregnancy or after giving birth, leading to negative outcomes for both parents and children. Mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, and untreated mood and anxiety disorders have significant economic and societal impact. Fewer than seven percent of those affected receive treatment. Preventing anxiety before it develops could significantly improve the health and well-being of perinatal individuals and their families.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a digital intervention called Reaching Calm, designed to prevent anxiety during pregnancy. Reaching Calm is delivered through obstetric (OB) clinical settings to increase accessibility and engagement. The intervention, developed using community-engaged and user-centered design approaches, is especially tailored for perinatal individuals experiencing economic challenges. Reaching Calm consists of three integrated components:

• A brief digital Anxiety Sensitivity Intervention (ASI), delivered via text messages and a web-based interface, incorporating psychoeducation and exposure exercises to reduce anxiety sensitivity, a risk factor for anxiety and depression.
• Training for OB professionals on perinatal anxiety prevention and integration of the digital program into routine care.
• An implementation protocol to facilitate seamless integration into OB practice workflows.

The study is a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT). Four OB practices will be randomized, with two offering Reaching Calm and two continuing with Usual Care. The intervention and observation period will last approximately four months for each participant, to align with the typical prenatal care timeline and allow sufficient time for engagement with the digital program.

The study will evaluate participant outcomes via surveys and intervention implementation via surveys with obstetric practice leadership and practice chart reviews.

A subset of participants will participate in interviews for more in-depth feedback, and a subset of professionals will join focus groups. Micro-randomization within participants will be used to evaluate whether personalization features (such as tailored content and support resources) increase engagement with the digital intervention. The extended RE-AIM implementation science framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) will guide evaluation.

Findings from this pilot study will inform preparation and design of a larger-scale hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of Reaching Calm. This work aims to create scalable, accessible, and effective solutions to prevent perinatal anxiety.

Inclusion criteria

• Receiving prenatal care at participating obstetric practice
• Endorsed mild to moderate anxiety (GAD-7 score 5-15)
• Currently pregnant (gestational age <32)
• Started Reaching Calm digital intervention, if in intervention group

Exclusion criteria

• Not pregnant
• Unable to participate in 60-minute interview
• Unwilling to be audio recorded
• GAD-7 <5, or GAD-7≥15
• Adults unable to consent (adults lacking capacity)
• Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)
• Prisoners
• Non-English-speaking