Development and Assessment of a Mobile Phone Based Intervention to Reduce Maternal Depression and Improve Child Health

Disturbances in mother-infant relationship in depressed mothers negatively influence the child's development. There are a number of efficient treatments for postnatal depression including antidepressant medication, psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions. Tele-health and mobile health is a novel and emerging field in psychiatric and psychological care and treatment of mental health difficulties, it involves the use of telecommunications to provide health care, support and intervention from a distance. The proposed study will test the efficacy of an innovative, affordable mobile based intervention program that can help mothers with postnatal depression in low resource countries such as Pakistan. Participants will be recruited from maternal and child care centres in Karachi, Pakistan and those participants (n = 204) meeting inclusion criteria of the study will be randomized into one of the 2 treatment arms, i.e., intervention or control, after completion of baseline assessment. Intervention will be comprised of LTP Plus and will be delivered through text messages. Momentary Sampling assessment and Momentary Psychological intervention will be part of this study. Participants will be assessed again after completion of intervention (i.e., after 12 weeks) and then 3 months post intervention.