Social Media-Based Parenting Program for Postpartum Depression

Overseen By Ellen McQuaid, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Disqualifiers: Suicidality, Severe depression, Premature birth, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 8 weeks

95 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The long-term goal is to develop effective parenting strategies to facilitate optimal child development for mothers suffering with PPD symptoms. The overall objective for this application is to study whether this program combined with online depression treatment leads to more responsive parenting (target) and signals improved child language, socioemotional and cognitive development (outcomes) compared to depression treatment alone. Findings from this application can be used to inform a future study to test the effectiveness and implementation of this social media-based parenting program.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment MoodGym, Social Media-Based Parenting Program for postpartum depression?

Research shows that a social media-based parenting program can improve parenting skills and reduce depression symptoms in postpartum mothers. Additionally, online workshops and internet interventions have been found to be effective in reducing postpartum depression and improving related outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Social Media-Based Parenting Program safe for postpartum depression?

The Social Media-Based Parenting Program has been tested in small studies and participants generally found it acceptable and beneficial, with no specific safety concerns reported. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the Social Media-Based Parenting Program treatment different from other treatments for postpartum depression?

The Social Media-Based Parenting Program is unique because it delivers parenting support through social media, making it more accessible for mothers who face barriers to attending in-person sessions. This approach has shown to improve parenting competence and reduce depression symptoms, with higher participation rates compared to traditional in-person interventions. ^{1 2 3 5 7}

Research Team

James Guevara, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Rhonda C. Boyd, PhD

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking women over 18 years old with infants less than 8 months of age, who have internet access and a smartphone or tablet. They must show signs of postpartum depression as indicated by scoring more than 9 on the EPDS.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a woman older than 18.

I am a woman who can speak and read English.

Women who have access to a smart phone or computer tablet with internet access

Exclusion Criteria

Women with a substantiated report of child maltreatment

Women who report suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and/or behavior) on the EPDS (Question #10) at enrollment

I was born before 35 weeks of pregnancy.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the social media-based parenting program and/or MoodGym online depression treatment

8 weeks

8 weekly sessions (online)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in parenting and child development outcomes

12 months

Monthly assessments

Treatment Details

Interventions

• MoodGym
• Social Media-Based Parenting Program

Trial Overview The study tests if a social media-based parenting program combined with an online depression treatment (MoodGym) can improve parenting responsiveness and benefit child language, socioemotional, and cognitive development compared to just treating depression alone.

Participant Groups

Group I: Parenting Program + MoodGym Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

The social media-based parenting program consists of 8 weekly sessions using a Facebook platform with the following topics: depression psychoeducation and behavioral activation, infant temperament, play, feeding, safety, sleep, parent-child interactions, and shared book reading. Participants in the experimental arm will also be enrolled in the online depression treatment program, MoodGym.

Group II: MoodGym Alone Active Control 1 Intervention

The MoodGym program is an evidence-based online cognitive behavioral treatment program that has been shown to be effective at reducing depression symptoms in a meta-analysis of 11 trials (g=0.36, 95% CI 0.17-0.56). Moodgym contains five modules with interactive exercises, workbooks, anxiety and depression quizzes, and downloadable relaxation audio files that can be completed online without therapist interaction.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

749

Recruited

11,400,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Findings from Research

A pilot study involving 24 mothers with postpartum depression showed that a parenting intervention delivered via social media (Facebook) significantly improved parenting competence and reduced depression severity compared to an in-person group.

The social media intervention had a high attendance rate of 83%, while the in-person group had only 3%, indicating that online delivery may be a more accessible and effective option for mothers facing barriers to traditional interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot RCT of a social media parenting intervention for postpartum mothers with depression symptoms. Boyd, RC., Price, J., Mogul, M., et al.[2020]

A one-day online workshop utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improved symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as enhancing social support and the mother-infant relationship.

This approach offers an efficient way to increase access to treatment for postpartum depression, suggesting it could be a valuable addition to standard care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One-Day Workshop Beneficial for Postpartum Depression. Rosenberg, K.[2022]

A new internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention combined with peer support was developed to prevent postpartum depression (PPD) and showed promising results, with only 4% of participants meeting the criteria for PPD at 6 weeks postpartum.

The study involved 25 pregnant women with mild depressive symptoms, and both the peer-supported and individual internet interventions effectively reduced depression symptoms, indicating that peer support may enhance adherence to online treatment programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Group-Based Online Intervention to Prevent Postpartum Depression (Sunnyside): Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. Duffecy, J., Grekin, R., Hinkel, H., et al.[2020]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and serious condition that can be effectively identified through routine screening, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, which helps improve clinical outcomes when followed by appropriate diagnostic and treatment programs.

Treatment for PPD can vary based on severity, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy recommended for mild to moderate cases, while antidepressants are suggested for more severe cases, highlighting the importance of personalized care and support systems for affected women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Concise review for physicians and other clinicians: postpartum depression. Bobo, WV., Yawn, BP.[2021]

The Mothers and Babies Online Course (eMB) was designed to prevent postpartum depression (PPD) and was accessed by 208 users, including 37% perinatal women and 63% health providers, highlighting its potential to reach those with limited access to mental health resources.

User feedback indicated that while the lessons were rated positively for usefulness, engagement was low, with only 4.4% of participants completing all eight lessons, suggesting a need for improvements in content delivery to enhance user interaction and effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mothers and Babies Online Course: Participant Characteristics and Behaviors in a Web-Based Prevention of Postpartum Depression Intervention. Barrera, AZ., Morris, SY., Ruiz, A.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot RCT of a social media parenting intervention for postpartum mothers with depression symptoms. [2020]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Media-based Parenting Program for Women With Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: An RCT. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One-Day Workshop Beneficial for Postpartum Depression. [2022]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Group-Based Online Intervention to Prevent Postpartum Depression (Sunnyside): Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Concise review for physicians and other clinicians: postpartum depression. [2021]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mothers and Babies Online Course: Participant Characteristics and Behaviors in a Web-Based Prevention of Postpartum Depression Intervention. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting and perinatal depression: meeting women's needs. [2020]