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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a parenting program on social media, combined with an online depression treatment, can help mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) become more responsive parents. It will compare two groups: one using both the Social Media-Based Parenting Program and MoodGym (an online tool for managing depression), and another using only MoodGym. The goal is to discover if the combined approach improves child development in areas like language, emotions, and thinking skills. The trial seeks mothers who have shown symptoms of PPD, have infants under 8 months old, and have internet access.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative treatment combinations that could enhance parenting and child development.

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 prior data suggests that this social media-based parenting program is safe for postpartum depression treatment?

Research has shown that parenting programs on social media can help reduce depression in new mothers. These programs have successfully lifted mood without causing significant side effects. Early results suggest that participants often feel better without harm from the program itself.

MoodGym, an online tool for treating depression, has effectively reduced depression symptoms. It is generally well-received, with few reports of negative effects. Users of MoodGym have reported feeling less depressed over time, and no serious side effects have been noted.

Both treatments aim to improve mental health without physical methods, usually resulting in fewer side effects. While detailed safety data for the social media parenting program might be lacking, the nature of the treatment suggests it is likely safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the social media-based parenting program for postpartum depression because it offers a fresh, tech-savvy approach to mental health treatment. Unlike traditional face-to-face therapy, this program uses a Facebook platform to deliver eight interactive weekly sessions, making it more accessible and convenient for new parents. Additionally, it includes MoodGym, an online cognitive behavioral therapy tool, which has been scientifically proven to help reduce depression symptoms. This combination of social media engagement and digital therapy could provide a more flexible and engaging way to support parents dealing with postpartum depression.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for postpartum depression?

This trial will compare a Social Media-Based Parenting Program with the MoodGym program for mothers with postpartum depression (PPD). Research has shown that parenting programs on social media can help mothers with PPD symptoms become more responsive to their children. One study found that mothers in these programs had better interactions with their kids. This method aims to support child development, especially in language, social skills, and thinking abilities. While more research is needed, early results suggest these programs can improve parenting and child outcomes. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

James Guevara, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Rhonda C. Boyd, PhD

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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]

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]

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