Clinical Trial: Group Therapy for Postpartum Depression

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Relational Group Intervention for Postpartum Depression

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

Detailed Summary:

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.

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Current Primary Outcome: Reduction of depression as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) [ Time Frame: Measured at post-treatment and Month 12 follow-up ]

Original Primary Outcome:

Current Secondary Outcome: 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 ]

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dates:
Date Received: January 7, 2003
Date Started: January 2002
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 23, 2014
Last Verified: January 2014