Depression Prevention for Pregnant Women on Public Assistance

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in approximately 10% to 16% of mothers who have recently delivered babies. The impact of PPD is profound, causing considerable emotional pain for the mother as well as possible disturbances in infant development and later child adjustment. If left untreated, the mother's depression may cause strain on family life and her relationship with her child. Further research is needed to discover treatments to effectively reduce the risk of experiencing PPD. Despite preliminary findings that suggest that psychosocial treatments may prevent postpartum mood disturbances, few studies have examined the effects of preventive therapy to reduce PPD in women at risk for PPD. An area of even greater neglect is the testing of such a treatment for financially disadvantaged women, who represent a group at high risk for PPD and a group less likely to access treatment for depression than middle-class women. The Postpartum Prevention Program (PPP), an interpersonal therapy program targeting factors that may play a significant role in the development of PPD, may be helpful in reducing the occurrence of PPD. This study will compare the effectiveness of PPP to enhanced care as usual (ECU) in preventing PPD in financially disadvantaged women who are pregnant. Participation in this single-blind study will last until 1 year after delivery. All potential participants will answer an initial questionnaire concerning stresses that may increase the risk of depression, including relationship and emotional difficulties. Selected participants will then undergo an interview about symptoms of depression, emotional difficulties, and alcohol and drug use. Participants identified as having depression will be provided appropriate referrals for treatment and their study participation will end. Participants invited to continue with the study will be randomly assigned to receive PPP or ECU. Participants assigned to receive PPP will attend four weekly 90-minute group sessions prior to delivery and one individual 50-minute booster session within 2 weeks of delivery. During these sessions, participants will learn ways to manage stress and negative feelings and how to access social support resources. Participants assigned to ECU will receive the usual medical care provided for pregnant women, educational material on PPD, and a list of referrals and resources. All participants will complete questionnaires and interviews about their emotional difficulties, relationships with others, and use of services for these difficulties prior to treatment assignment; 4 weeks after treatment assignment; 3 weeks after delivery; and 3, 6, and 12 months after delivery. Participants will also be seen briefly at the hospital at the time of delivery and 3, 6, and 12 months after delivery to assess mother-infant relationships. All questionnaires and assessments will take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete.