Engage & Connect: A Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is linked with decreased motivation to seek rewarding activities and enjoyment of pleasurable experiences. Social isolation and low perceived social support predict persistence of postpartum depression. Engagement in rewarding social activities with significant others may increase motivation and enjoyment, motivating utilization of a therapy that addresses social isolation and reward response. The investigators developed Engage & Connect (E&C), a 9-week psychotherapy program that focuses on increasing meaningful social activities with significant others. This study will be a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial that will compare the 9-week E&C course for mothers with postpartum depression with a Symptom Review and Psychoeducation condition (SRP) for mothers with postpartum depression.

Inclusion criteria

• Up to 1 year post-delivery
• Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥ 10.
• Off antidepressants or on a stable dose of an antidepressant for 8 weeks and do not intend to change the dose in the next 10 weeks.
• Capacity to provide consent for research assessment and treatment.
• Speaks English proficiently

Exclusion criteria

• Intent or plan to attempt suicide in the near future
• Ongoing psychotherapy (no more than once every 8 weeks or during the duration of the intervention)
• Active substance abuse or dependence
• Severe fetal anomalies, stillbirth or infant death at time of enrollment for index pregnancy
• History or presence of psychiatric diagnoses other than major depressive disorder without psychotic features, generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, or specific phobia.
• Use of psychotropic drugs or cholinesterase inhibitors other than use of ≤ 0.5 mg of lorazepam daily up to seven times per week.