Parenting Skills Group for Mothers With Postpartum Depression
Purpose
The goal of this longitudinal study is to study the effects of a parenting skills group (Circle of Security Parenting, aka COSP) in mothers with postpartum depression. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Will changes in methylation of the OXTR rs53576 be apparent in mother and/or infant after having gone through the 8-week COSP program? - Will COSP participation be associated with improved symptoms of postpartum depression (over and above standard care), attachment style, and relational characteristics of the mother-infant dyad? - Will COSP participation be associated with changes in social behavior in the infant, and if so, do they persist throughout childhood? Participants will - Participate in an 8-week COSP program delivered remotely via Zoom. - Provide buccal swabs (mother and infant) to assess changes in methylation of OXTR rs53576 pre- versus post-intervention. - Complete a series of assessment questionnaires delivered remotely. - Videotape a play-based assessment in their home. - Receive infant developmental testing Researchers will compare characteristics of waitlist controls to those participating in the COSP program at the mid-way point of the program to see if the two groups differ.
Condition
- Postpartum Depression
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 18 Years and 50 Years
- Eligible Genders
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- Mothers aged 18-50 years old with infants aged 3-14 months old - Mothers who are experiencing symptoms of depression and mothers who are not experiencing symptoms of depression (non-depressed controls) are encouraged to participate. (please note that mothers who are experiencing active depression and who are not already being treated under the care of a qualified healthcare provider (i.e. through therapy or psychopharmacological intervention) will be referred for such treatment prior to being enrolled in the study. This study is not a replacement for professional management of depression or other mental health symptoms.
Exclusion Criteria
- Mothers with severe psychopathology (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, among others) - Infants with major medical problems that may interfere with a mother's ability to participate in and benefit from the intervention
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Sequential Assignment
- Intervention Model Description
- All participants will ultimately receive the parenting group intervention. A waitlist control design will be implemented to compare outcomes between those not having received the intervention yet and those having completed it. Data collection will occur pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, at 6 months post-intervention, at 12 months post-intervention, and at approximately 5 years post-intervention (when child is school-aged).
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) group |
This group of mothers will be assigned to begin the parenting skills intervention (COSP) group soon after enrollment, and data collection (developmental testing, buccal swabs, play-based assessment, questionnaires) will proceed as planned. COSP groups will be conducted remotely via Zoom. |
|
|
No Intervention Waitlist Control Group |
This group of mothers will be assigned to a waitlist control group and will be scheduled to begin the parenting skills group at a later time. In order to serve as a no-intervention control, they will be administered assessments while on the waiting list. These assessments will be given concurrently with mid-point assessment of the intervention group. |
|
Recruiting Locations
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of Colorado, Denver
Detailed Description
The primary aims of this study are to 1) better understand the biological/genetic mechanisms and processes of behavior change in mothers and babies relating to oxytocin receptor gene methylation; 2) complete an outcome assessment of the efficacy of the COSP intervention using a tele-health format, specifically in relation to treating maternal depression; 3) to better understand the mechanisms and processes of change in relation to maternal and infant co-regulation achieved through the promotion of a secure attachment between mothers and their at-risk infants, and to understand how these processes form a trajectory of behavioral outcomes in kindergarten. The COSP program lasts for 8 weeks and will be delivered via Zoom. Researchers will collect a variety of data including biological samples, self-report questionnaires, developmental assessment, and direct observation to assess predictors and outcomes relating to participation in the COSP program. Data will be collected prior to starting COSP, half-way through participation, after having completed the program, and at several timepoints following completion.
