Postpartum Depression (PPD)

The goal of this observational study is to examine whether passively collected wearable data can be used to predict onset and severity of postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. When do depression and anxiety symptoms emerge, worsen, and improve across the first 6 months postpartum? 2. Can machine learning/artificial intelligence models prospectively predict clinically significant depression symptoms using Apple Watch metrics? Women who have given birth within the past 2 months and who live in Hawai'i will be eligible for the study. Participants will wear an Apple Watch and answer weekly online survey questions until they reach 6 months postpartum. The study is designed to be fully remote to maximize accessibility across the Hawaiian Islands.

This study aims to learn about depression and alcohol use in postpartum mothers and whether an intervention based on contingency management and problem-solving therapy (CM-PST) can help reduce these symptoms. The main questions it seeks to answer are: 1. How do new mothers fare with depressive symptoms and alcohol use in the first 12 months after giving birth? 2. Will a CM-PST intervention reduce depressive symptoms and alcohol use frequency among new mothers? 3. Is a CM-PST intervention practical for new mothers? The researchers will recruit approximately 30 new mothers and randomly select half to attend a 6-week CM-PST intervention. They will compare those who received the intervention versus those who did not to see if there are any differences in their depressive symptoms and alcohol usage. Participants will: * Complete 4 remote intervention sessions over 6 weeks * Conduct at-home urine drug tests 2x per week during the 6-week intervention * Answer online surveys about their mental health and alcohol use

This study is a randomized controlled trial comparing two models of doula support for pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid: an enhanced doula support model, in which support starts earlier in pregnancy, occurs more frequently, and continues through the first year after birth, versus the standard doula care currently covered by Medicaid in Florida. The study also builds the doula workforce needed to sustain this model of care, training doulas to become eligible to bill Medicaid for their services. The primary goal is to determine whether the enhanced doula model results in significantly lower rates of perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to standard doula support, while gathering data on real-world implementation. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of Medicaid-covered doula services more broadly, with findings intended to inform state-level policy on Medicaid reimbursement and the extension of doula services into the postpartum period.

This study is a large, multi-site clinical trial testing whether Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT), a fast-acting form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can more effectively reduce symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) compared to a sham treatment. It will enroll 192 women within 12 months postpartum who are experiencing depression, and will track their progress for up to 12 months. The trial's main goal is to see if SAINT leads to reduction in depression severity in women with postpartum depression.

The objectif of the IRON-DEP Study is to assess the efficacy of intravenous (IV) versus oral iron treatment on the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in women with moderate iron deficiency anemia after caesarean delivery.

This study tests whether a nurse-led "4-step narrative nursing" program can reduce anxiety and improve breastfeeding confidence in mothers who are having a planned or non-emergency cesarean section. What is the problem? About 30-40% of Chinese cesarean mothers feel high anxiety after surgery, and 1 in 5 is at risk for postpartum depression. Low confidence in breastfeeding is also common. What will we do? We will randomly assign 160 mothers (1:1) to either: Usual care - standard education and ward care, or Usual care plus narrative nursing - four short (10-20 min) conversations with a trained nurse: Before surgery - help the mother talk about her fears. 24-48 h after surgery - encourage her to "name" pain or worries and separate them from herself. Before discharge - guide her to find positive moments and build a "strong-mom" story. Two weeks later by phone - strengthen the new story and review feeding success. What will we measure? Main result: anxiety score at 48 h (STAI scale). Other results: depression risk, breastfeeding confidence, pain, and feeding rates up to 3 months. Possible benefits: Lower anxiety, better mood, higher breastfeeding rates. No drugs or extra procedures are involved, only talking. Risks: Minimal; some mothers may feel emotional during conversations, but nurses can pause or refer to counselling if needed.

The purpose of this research study is to test the study drug, LPCN 1154A, as a possible treatment for postpartum depression (PPD). The trial aims to determine: * If LPCN 1154A reduces depressive symptoms in subjects with severe PPD * How well LPCN 1154A is tolerated and what side effects it may cause

The primary objective of this research is to conduct a randomized clinical trial to examine the impact of doula-coordinated, midwife-delivered postpartum care (intervention arm) on postpartum health care utilization, health outcomes, and patient-reported experiences compared with standard postpartum care (control arm) among individuals with preterm births \<34 weeks' gestation requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce depressive symptoms in women who are pregnant or up to 12 months after childbirth and have peripartum depression. rTMS is a non-invasive treatment in which a device placed on the scalp delivers gentle magnetic pulses to a brain area involved in mood regulation. It does not involve medication or anaesthesia. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does active rTMS reduce depressive symptoms more than sham rTMS? * What side effects occur during treatment, and how well is rTMS tolerated? * Are improvements in depressive symptoms still present one month after treatment? Researchers will compare active rTMS with sham rTMS, a treatment designed to feel and sound similar but not to provide effective brain stimulation. Neither participants nor the clinicians assessing depressive symptoms will know which treatment was assigned during the main study phase. Up to 60 women aged 18 years or older who are pregnant or up to 12 months after childbirth and have clinically relevant depressive symptoms may take part. Participants will: * Attend a screening and baseline visit, including questionnaires, EEG and ECG recordings, and collection of small hair and sputum samples to study stress-related hormone levels * Be assigned by chance to receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS * Attend 30 treatment sessions, scheduled flexibly over approximately 1.5 to 10 weeks to accommodate childcare, breastfeeding, fatigue, and medical appointments * Complete questionnaires about mood, wellbeing, quality of life, social support, and treatment expectations before and after treatment * Have safety and side effects checked before each treatment session * Complete a telephone follow-up assessment one month after treatment * Be asked to complete a short questionnaire about their child's development one year after treatment Each treatment visit lasts about 30 minutes, including preparation, treatment, and a short safety check. Infants may be brought to treatment visits when this can be done safely. rTMS is generally well tolerated. Possible temporary side effects include headache, scalp discomfort, facial muscle twitching during stimulation, dizziness, or tiredness. A seizure is a very rare but serious possible risk; therefore, people with epilepsy, certain implants, or other relevant risk factors cannot take part. Participation is voluntary. Participants can pause or stop participation at any time without affecting their usual care. Personal data will be coded and handled confidentially. Women assigned to sham treatment will be offered active rTMS after the blinded study phase, if they wish. The results may help clarify whether rTMS is an effective non-medication treatment option for peripartum depression.

The proposed study is an open-label trial of Re-Timer® wearable morning bright light therapy for postpartum depression. The study is focused on evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and implementation context of morning Bright Light Treatment (mBLT) for postpartum depression.

After having a baby, some women develop a condition called postpartum depression, or PPD, which can cause sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with their newborn. Right now, most women aren't screened for PPD until about 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth, but this study wants to find out if checking earlier could help identify signs sooner. To test this, researchers will work with 428 women who deliver at an MGH hospital clinic and have no history of depression. Each woman will be randomly placed into one of two groups: one group will fill out a short depression questionnaire online at 2 to 3 weeks after delivery, while the other group will follow the usual process and complete the same questionnaire at their regular 6-week visit. The results will go to each woman's doctor, who will decide if any follow-up care is needed, just like they normally would. The study will follow each participant for 6 months after delivery to see whether earlier screening makes a difference.

The goal of this study will be piloting the Parents and Babies perinatal depression prevention intervention to examine its feasibility and acceptability and to obtain preliminary data on its efficacy. This includes exploring/understanding users' experiences navigating the interventions (e.g., from an implementation perspective) and preliminary evaluations of clinical outcomes, including mental health and minority stress. With data gathered from this pilot study, we will make final adaptations to the Parents and Babies manuals and plan to develop a randomized-control trial to evaluate efficacy of the intervention.

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial consisting of an experimental drug group and a placebo group, each enrolling 100 participants. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of MI078 capsules for the treatment of postpartum depression.

The transition to parenthood is often an exciting yet hard period for parents. In the first year after a new baby, many parents feel less confident, have more anxiety and depression, and feel more isolated and alone. During this time, many parents use their phones and the Internet to seek out information and support. Thus, the investigators are exploring the opportunity of using mHealth, or mobile health, to provide information directly to parents after the birth of their first baby. The investigators have developed a program for both birthing and non-birthing parents called the Essential Coaching Postpartum program. This program provides 332 parents with text messages sent for 6 weeks after birth to share information on newborn care and parent outcomes. This will be tailored based on whether they are the birthing parent (Essential Coaching for Every Mother) or non-birthing parent (Essential Coaching for Every Partner). The investigators will evaluate this program by comparing a group of parents who receive the messages to a group of parents do not receive any text messages. To determine the success of the Essential Coaching Postpartum program, the investigators will compare parents' confidence, anxiety, depression, and co-parenting between the two groups after six-weeks and six-months. The investigators believe that parents who get the text messages will have higher confidence and co-parenting outcomes and lower anxiety and depression. The investigator's goal with the Essential Coaching Postpartum program is to help make the first few weeks after a new baby less stressful by providing information and support directly to parents that they know they can trust.

The aim of this clinical trial is to support psychological well-being and facilitate adjustment to parenthood among postpartum mothers and fathers through a midwife-led childbirth review (MLCR). MLCR is a structured 45-60-minute postpartum intervention focused on processing and integration of the individual's childbirth experience, involving active listening, emotional support, and provision of information. In this study, the investigators will employ the MLCR intervention developed by Gamble and Creedy (2009) for women with traumatic birth experiences, adapted for use in the general population of new parents, including both mothers and fathers/partners. This study will compare the effectiveness of three MLCR models - MLCR provided within the first postpartum week, MLCR provided at 6-8 weeks postpartum, and MLCR provided at both time points - with standard postpartum care and with each other.

The study's objective is to conduct a Phase II randomized controlled trial examining the preliminary efficacy of the VoiceLove app compared to usual care on maternal postpartum depression in mothers with infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Primary aim: Assess the effects of VoiceLove on maternal postpartum depression, measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The estimates from this study will be used for a future definitive Phase III trial. Secondary aim: Assess feasibility, acceptability, and patterns of communication and engagement among mothers, partners, and NICU clinicians during the NICU hospitalization, measured through app usage metrics, satisfaction surveys, and qualitative interviews. Additionally, we will evaluate effects of infant length of stay.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital psychoeducational intervention, "What Were We Thinking" (WWWT), to prevent the development of postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms in first-time mothers in Chile. The study includes adult women with a healthy, full-term infant younger than two months who are receiving care in primary health centers. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does participation in the WWWT intervention reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms at 3 months after the end of the intervention compared to usual care? * Does participation in the intervention improve maternal self-efficacy, perceived social support, and coparenting relationship quality compared to usual care? Researchers will compare an experimental group receiving the full WWWT intervention with a control group receiving usual care to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Participants will: * Complete self-report questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, maternal self-efficacy, perceived social support, and coparenting at baseline and at 3-month follow-up * Be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group * Receive the WWWT intervention between 4 and 10 weeks postpartum (intervention group), including: * Fourteen psychoeducational video modules (3-5 minutes each) delivered via text messaging over 4-5 weeks * Individual contact with a trained facilitator through text messaging * One virtual group session with other mothers and a facilitator * Continue receiving usual care in primary health services (control group) and receive a shortened version of the intervention after the follow-up assessment

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is defined as the development of depression at any time during the first year after childbirth¹. Its prevalence ranges from 15% to 20%. It can manifest with symptoms such as depressed mood, loss of interest and energy, insomnia, anxiety, and may even lead to suicidal ideation. The consequences are numerous, both physical and psychological, with long-term repercussions on the mother-infant bond, family dysfunction, and the development of emotional and cognitive disorders in children. The etiology of PPD is multifactorial, but numerous recent studies have focused on the role of labor pain and its management with labor analgesia techniques. The aim of the present study is therefore to assess whether there is a difference in the incidence of PPD between parturients whose expectations regarding labor analgesia were met ('expectations met' group) versus those whose expectations were unmet.

Brief Title: Intranasal Dexmedetomidine for Postpartum Depression Prevention: A Randomized Trial This study aims to evaluate the effect of intranasal dexmedetomidine (Dex) administered before combined spinal-epidural labor analgesia on the incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) in women undergoing vaginal delivery. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will enroll 270 parturients scheduled for vaginal delivery with neuraxial labor analgesia at Chengdu Jinjiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital from 2026 to 2027. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either intranasal Dex (50 μg) or an equal volume of normal saline before the initiation of labor analgesia. Primary Outcome Measure: Incidence of PPD at 42 days postpartum, defined as an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥ 10 Secondary Outcome Measures: Incidence of PPD at 7 days postpartum (EPDS ≥ 10) Sleep quality assessed by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and incidence of sleep disturbance (NRS ≥ 6) at 7 and 42 days postpartum Analgesic effect: NRS pain scores before labor analgesia and at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after analgesia Sedative effect: Ramsay Sedation Scale scores at the same time points Adverse events: bradycardia, hypotension, nausea/vomiting, respiratory depression, oversedation, intrapartum fever Labor characteristics: duration of first, second, and third stages of labor, and total labor duration Duration of labor analgesia Mode of delivery: spontaneous vaginal delivery or cesarean section Neonatal outcomes: Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, and NICU admission rate We hypothesize that intranasal Dex administered before labor analgesia will significantly reduce the incidence of PPD at 42 days postpartum compared to placebo. This study is expected to provide a novel, non-invasive, and effective strategy for PPD prevention in women undergoing vaginal delivery, thereby improving maternal mental health and neonatal outcomes.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and serious condition affecting 9.5% of women in high-income countries, and around 8% in Denmark. It shares core features with major depression, including low mood, loss of interest, and impaired functioning. Untreated PPD can persist for months, negatively impacting maternal well-being, child development, and family dynamics. In Denmark, systematic screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is standard practice, but access to PPD treatment varies widely across municipalities. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective psychological intervention for perinatal depression, yet limited availability and long wait times create barriers to access to care. Internet-based CBT (iCBT) offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative that can be delivered flexibly at home. Evidence supports the efficacy of self-guided iCBT for depression, though challenges such as high dropout rates have been reported. International trials in Norway, Portugal, Iran, South Korea, and the US have shown promising results for iCBT in perinatal populations. Some recent iCBT based interventions have also incorporated elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - which emphasizes psychological flexibility via mindfulness-based acceptance and values-driven action-and have demonstrated efficacy in reducing postpartum depression symptoms. These kinds of interventions (either iCBT or iCBT + ACT) have not yet been tested and evaluated in Denmark. This clinical trial aims to evaluate whether adding an iCBT intervention with elements from ACT (iCARE) to treatment as usual (TAU) is more effective than TAU alone in reducing depressive symptoms in mothers with symptoms of PPD. Moreover, a qualitative process evaluation of the iCARE will explore implementation, acceptability, and mechanisms of impact. Its primary aim is to understand how participants experience the iCARE intervention and TAU, focusing on implementation fidelity, acceptability, and contextual influences. The secondary aim is to explore perceived mechanisms of change (e.g., cognitive, emotional, behavioral) and barriers/facilitators to engagement.

Breastfeeding is critical for infant and maternal health; however, many first-time mothers experience difficulties that may lead to early discontinuation of breastfeeding. Telehealth-supported breastfeeding counseling has the potential to provide timely, accessible, and continuous support to mothers during the postpartum period. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of telehealth-supported breastfeeding counseling on breastfeeding duration, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and postpartum depressive symptoms in primiparous mothers. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a telehealth-supported breastfeeding counseling group or a routine postpartum care group. The intervention group will receive structured breastfeeding counseling sessions delivered via telecommunication tools in addition to standard care, while the control group will receive routine postpartum care only. Outcomes will be assessed using validated questionnaires and follow-up evaluations during the postpartum period. The findings of this study may contribute to improving breastfeeding support strategies and maternal mental health outcomes.

This randomized, single-blind controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of maternal lullaby singing during infant bathing on mother-infant bonding, postpartum depressive symptoms, and perceived parenting self-efficacy in mothers of healthy term infants. The postpartum period represents a critical phase for maternal psychological adjustment, during which stress, depressive symptoms, and low parenting confidence may negatively affect the quality of mother-infant interaction and bonding. Low-cost, culturally meaningful, and non-pharmacological interventions that support maternal well-being and early bonding are therefore of particular importance. The study will be conducted with mothers who have delivered healthy term infants in a public hospital. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Mothers in the intervention group will receive a structured bathing education and will be instructed to bathe their infants three times per week for two consecutive weeks while singing a lullaby using their own voice in a calm and quiet home environment. Live-recorded music will not be used. The intervention emphasizes sensory interaction, emotional closeness, and maternal voice as key components. Each bathing session is expected to last approximately 10-15 minutes. The control group will receive routine postpartum care without a structured lullaby-based bathing intervention. Outcome measures include mother-infant bonding, postpartum depressive symptoms, and perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. Data will be collected at two time points: prior to hospital discharge (within the first 24 hours postpartum) and at the end of the two-week intervention period. Validated self-report instruments will be used for all outcome assessments. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of a simple, culturally embedded caregiving practice in supporting maternal mental health, strengthening mother-infant bonding, and enhancing parenting confidence during the early postpartum period. Results may inform postpartum care practices, parental counseling programs, and midwife-led supportive interventions.

The study is divided into three phases: Phase 1: Baseline survey to obtain an overall understanding of the current situation of voluntary participation in prenatal perineal massage. Phase 2: Follow-up survey to further assess the current situation of voluntary prenatal exercise and prenatal perineal massage. Phase 3: Implementation of an intervention combining prenatal exercise and perineal massage. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a combined prenatal program of supervised, moderate-intensity exercise plus professionally administered antenatal perineal massage can improve maternal and newborn outcomes and can be safely implemented as part of routine antenatal care in healthy pregnant women receiving care at participating hospitals. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the combined prenatal program reduce urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after delivery? 2. Does the combined prenatal program reduce depressive symptoms during pregnancy and in the postpartum period? 3. Does the combined prenatal program lower the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus? 4. Does the combined prenatal program reduce neonatal complications, including macrosomia? 5. Do spontaneous, self-initiated prenatal exercise and structured, supervised prenatal exercise differ in their effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes ()? Researchers will compare the combined prenatal program to usual antenatal care to determine whether the intervention improves maternal and neonatal outcomes and is safe, feasible, and acceptable in a real-world clinical setting. Participants will: 1. Be screened and enrolled during pregnancy and complete baseline and follow-up assessments during pregnancy and after delivery. 2. Be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a usual-care control group. 3. If assigned to the intervention group, attend supervised moderate-intensity exercise sessions three times per week (approximately 60 minutes per session) throughout pregnancy and receive antenatal perineal massage delivered by trained health professionals during late pregnancy. 4. Provide questionnaire-based information and clinical data collected during routine visits and from medical records for outcome evaluation.

This study will examine whether a Respectful Maternity Care-based action plan can improve the quality of postpartum care and maternal and newborn outcomes. Nurses and midwives will receive a three-day interactive training about respectful, evidence-based postpartum care. After training, a unit-level action plan will be implemented, including supportive visits, educational materials, and feedback meetings. Women receiving routine postpartum care before the intervention will be compared with women receiving care after implementation. Outcomes will include respectful maternity care experiences, maternal satisfaction, exclusive breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks, maternal mental health, mother-infant bonding, and postpartum complications. The goal of this study is to promote respectful, high-quality postpartum care and improve the health and well-being of mothers and newborns.

The study will seek to prospectively validate the Enlighten Device for prediction of PPD by examining true/false positive and negative rates of the test using PPD outcomes collected through 3 months postpartum; compare the accuracy of biomarkers and algorithm in determining risk for PPD in blood compared to saliva; determine the utility of a week 6 sample collection in identifying women who are currently experiencing PPD thus bringing them to clinical attention. Our population will consist of pregnant women aged 18 and older up to 33 weeks of gestation. This research involves two groups of potentially vulnerable subjects: pregnant women and their infants. Because this is a study of postpartum depression (PPD), inclusion of these two vulnerable subjects is required. The study will enroll 1000 pregnant non-adolescent women of childbearing age who meet eligibility criteria. This project will address the following Aims: Specific Aim 1: Prospective collection of true/false positive and negative PPD outcomes through 3 months postpartum. Primary Hypothesis H1a: 80% or greater of pregnant women who develop postpartum depression (PPD) by 3 months after delivery will be determined to be Biomarker Positive by the Enlighten Test in T3. Primary Hypothesis H1b: 10% or fewer of pregnant women who are determined to be Biomarker Negative by the Enlighten Test in T3 will develop PPD by 3 months after delivery. Exploratory Aim 1: Investigation of clinical factors that may be associated with false positive and false negative rates, such as: medication use, stressful life events, \& sociocultural context. Specific Aim 2: Comparison of prospective biomarker calls made in blood samples compared to saliva samples using the Enlighten Test. Primary Hypothesis H2: Biomarker calls made using blood versus saliva samples will demonstrate a high concordance rate of 75% or higher. Exploratory Aim 2: In individuals who develop PPD by 3 months postpartum, conduct an epigenome-wide study (EWAS) in saliva to identify saliva-specific epigenetic biomarkers to improve the algorithm's ability to predict PPD using saliva in the third trimester and Week 6 samples. Specific Aim 3: Determination of the utility of the Enlighten Test in identifying women currently experiencing PPD at W6 postpartum. Primary Hypothesis H3: 80% of women who meet criteria for PPD at W6 will be Biomarker Positive. Participants will be screened during the second or third trimester and enrolled during the third trimester, before week 30 weeks of gestation. Participants may self- identify through study advertisements in participating clinics, social media outlets, and community outreach efforts. Enrolled participants will undergo blood collection during their 3rd trimester completed by mobile phlebotomists in-person through ExamOne (\~27-30 weeks, a standard pregnancy-related blood collection timepoint) for completion of the Enlighten Device test, the blood-based epigenetic biomarker test. Participants will then be interviewed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months postpartum for the development of depression symptoms. They'll also complete a multitude of other outcome measures at each of these visits.