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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00051246

Group Therapy for Postpartum Depression

This study will compare standard individual treatment to group therapy for the treatment of postpartum depression.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression, Postpartum Depressive Disorder Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Pregnancy Complications Puerperal Disorders Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Wisconsin Dept. of Psychiatry

Madison, Wisconsin, 53719, United States

About this study

Ten to twenty percent of new mothers experience major depression in the postpartum period or postpartum depression (PPD). This condition poses a risk for disturbances in the mother-infant relationship as well as for developmental delays and subsequent psychopathology in their children. Thus, and investigation of the efficacy of a relational approach that focuses on improving the mother's sense of competence in the parenting role, and reducing depressive symptoms and social isolation through group therapy is warranted.

Patients are randomly assigned to either relational group treatment or to standard individual treatment. Assessments of maternal and infant functioning, mother-infant and father-infant relations, parenting stress, and marital conflict and conducted pre- and post-treatment, at 12 months post-treatment, and when infants are 12 and 24 months of age.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Major depression with an infant under 7 months of age

Exclusion criteria

  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Organic brain syndrome
  • Antisocial personality disorder
  • Current psychosis or mania
  • Lifetime history of mental retardation
  • Current alcohol or substance abuse
  • Cognitive disability
  • Infants born more than 6 weeks premature or with major medical conditions or developmental disabilities

Treatment and study plan

Mother-Infant Group Psychotherapy

Behavioral

Mother-infant group psychotherapy consists of weekly 2.5-hour psychotherapy sessions comprised of mother's group therapy, infant developmental therapy, and mother-infant dyadic psychotherapy. Group treatment will last 15 weeks.

interpersonal psychotherapy

Behavioral

Individual psychotherapy treatment focuses on role transition, interpersonal relationships, and loss. Individual treatment period will last 15 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduction of depression as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD)

    Time frame: Measured at post-treatment and Month 12 follow-up

Secondary outcomes

  1. Improvement in parent-infant interactions as measured by the Early Relational Assessment (ERA)

    Time frame: Measured at post-treatment, Month 12 follow-up, and 12 and 24 months of age

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Registry information

Official study title

Relational Group Intervention for Postpartum Depression

Important dates

Study start
2002
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2008
First posted
Jan 8, 2003
Registry last updated
Jan 24, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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