Treatment of Depression in Mothers in Home Visitation

This study involves the development and preliminarily testing of In-Home Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (IH-CBT), a psychological treatment grounded in the cognitive model but adapted for administration in conjunction with home visitation. IH-CBT is designed to (1) use the techniques and approaches of CBT which have received strong empirical support, (2) be implemented in the home setting, (3) meet the needs of young postpartum mothers in their first year of home visitation, and (4) be seamlessly integrated with home visitation to maximize the likelihood of recovery from depression, prevent relapse, and increase of the benefits of home visitation. IH-CBT will be delivered by trained therapist who will provide 15 treatment sessions followed by a 1 month booster session. A small-scale randomized clinical trial will be conducted contrasting IH-CBT delivered in conjunction with home visitation and home visitation alone ("typical home visitation"-THV). Mothers in the THV condition will be able to obtain treatment in the community if they choose.

Mothers will be identified based on obtaining a score of ≥12 on the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Screen administered by home visitors at 3 months postpartum. Final eligibility will be determined based on subsequently obtaining a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) using the SCID. A comprehensive assessment of depression, other psychiatric symptoms, social support and network, and parenting and child adjustment will be administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3 month follow-up. Ratings of MDD at post-treatment and follow-up will be conducted by clinicians blind to condition.

The following hypotheses will be tested:

Hypothesis 1. Mothers in IH-CBT will report greater reductions in self-reported and clinician-rated depression at post-treatment and follow up relative to THV.

Hypothesis 2. Mothers in IH-CBT will report improvements in overall functioning, social support, social network, and general psychiatric symptomatology at post-treatment and follow up relative to IH-CBT.

Hypothesis 3. Mothers who recover from depression at post-treatment will report improvements in parenting and child adjustment relative to those who do not recover.

Inclusion criteria

• first-time mother participating in home visitation program
• enrolled in home visitation program for at least 2 months
• 16 years of age or older
• score of 12 or higher on Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Screen at 3 months postpartum
• diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders
• English speaking

Exclusion criteria

• lifetime history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, antisocial personality disorder
• history of psychosis
• current substance dependence
• current antidepressant use or other mood altering medications and/or current involvement in psychotherapy