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NCT Number: NCT07561632

Predictive Value of Early Peritraumatic Distress Screening for Childbirth-PTSD Following Unplanned Cesarean Delivery

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether early postpartum screening tools can predict the development of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms in individuals who undergo unplanned cesarean delivery.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Do scores on the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) collected 24-48 hours after delivery predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum? * Do scores on the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF) collected 24-48 hours after delivery predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum?

Participants will:

* Complete questionnaires within 24-48 hours after delivery, including the PDI, CityBiTS-SF, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). * Complete follow-up questionnaires at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum, including measures of PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, PCL-5) and depressive symptoms.

Researchers will evaluate whether early screening scores are associated with later symptoms of childbirth-related PTSD and postpartum depression, and will assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing routine inpatient screening for psychological birth trauma.

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Key information

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Acute Stress Symptoms Depression, Postpartum Depressive Disorder Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Post Partum Depression Pregnancy Complications Puerperal Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Urogenital Diseases

Age range

19 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3N1, Canada

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Katherine Seligman, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

6048752158

About this study

Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) is increasingly recognized as a contributor to maternal morbidity and is more common among individuals who undergo unplanned cesarean delivery. Early identification of individuals at risk for CB-PTSD could allow timely referral to mental health support; however, screening for psychological birth trauma is not routinely performed in the immediate postpartum period.

This prospective observational cohort study will evaluate whether early postpartum screening tools can predict later PTSD symptoms following unplanned cesarean delivery. Participants will complete the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI), the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) within 24-48 hours postpartum. Follow-up surveys at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum will assess PTSD symptoms using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and depressive symptoms using the EPDS.

The primary objective is to determine whether early postpartum screening scores on the PDI and CityBiTS-SF predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum. Secondary analyses will evaluate diagnostic performance of these tools, associations with postpartum depressive symptoms, and the feasibility of implementing routine postpartum screening for psychological birth trauma.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥19 years
  • Underwent unplanned cesarean delivery
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Able to read and understand English questionnaires

Exclusion criteria

  • Fetal or neonatal demise
  • Unable to complete study questionnaires or provide informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Postpartum Psychological Screening

Other

Participants complete validated screening questionnaires 24-48 hours postpartum, including the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory, City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Follow-up surveys at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum include the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, EPDS, and City Birth Trauma Scale - Long Form

Primary outcomes

  1. Sensitivity of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI ≥15) for Predicting Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms at 6 Weeks Postpartum

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum

    Sensitivity of a Peritraumatic Distress Inventory score ≥15 obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for predicting childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum, defined as a PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33.

  2. Sensitivity of the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF ≥4) for Predicting Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms at 6 Weeks Postpartum

    Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum

    Sensitivity of a City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form score ≥4 obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for predicting childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum, defined as a PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Diagnostic Accuracy of Early Postpartum Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) Screening for Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms

    Time frame: 6 weeks & 3 Months Postpartum

    Specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for a Peritraumatic Distress Inventory score ≥15 obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for predicting childbirth-related PTSD symptoms defined as PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33.

  2. Diagnostic Accuracy of Early Postpartum City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF) Screening for Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms

    Time frame: 6 weeks & 3 Months Postpartum

    Specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for a City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form score ≥4 obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for predicting childbirth-related PTSD symptoms defined as PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33.

  3. Association Between Early Peritraumatic Distress Inventory Scores and Postpartum Depression Symptoms

    Time frame: 6 weeks & 3 Months Postpartum

    Correlation and predictive accuracy of Peritraumatic Distress Inventory scores obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for identifying clinically significant postpartum depressive symptoms, defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥13.

  4. Feasibility of Inpatient Postpartum Psychological Screening

    Time frame: 24-48 hours postpartum

    Feasibility will be evaluated by screening completion rates, administration time, and the proportion of eligible participants who complete psychological screening questionnaires within 24-48 hours postpartum.

  5. Participant Acceptability of Postpartum Psychological Screening

    Time frame: 24-48 hours postpartum

    Acceptability will be assessed using structured participant feedback surveys evaluating comfort with screening, perceived relevance, and perceived burden of completing screening questionnaires.

  6. Themes Associated with Traumatic Birth Experiences

    Time frame: 24-48 hours postpartum

    Qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended participant responses describing distressing or traumatic aspects of childbirth. Themes will be identified using structured coding methods and summarized using frequency counts.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Katherine Seligman, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

604-875-2158

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of British Columbia

Other

Collaborators

  • Women's Health Research Institute of British Columbia

Registry information

Acronym: PREDICT

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 1, 2026
Registry last updated
May 19, 2026

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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