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ParentingNCT02724774

Collaborative Perinatal Mental Health and Parenting Support in Primary Care

A study testing Promoting First Relationships® in people with Parenting and Mother-child Relations, run by University of Washington at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Treating mothers' perinatal depressive and other mental health symptoms alone does not prevent impaired parenting quality and adverse infant outcomes. The goal of this research is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of adding a research-based 10-week home visiting parenting program… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
Conditions the study is for
Parenting, Mother-child Relations
What is being tested?
Promoting First Relationships®
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
252 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
24 Nov 2015to 4 Apr 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Mothers with infants 6 weeks - 3 months old
  • English or Spanish speaking
  • Access to a telephone
  • Currently or at some point during pregnancy received treatment for a mental health condition (counseling and/or medications) at a participating community health center in the Seattle, Washington area

Who cannot join

  • Currently experiencing an acute crisis (e.g., severe domestic violence, homelessness, hospitalization, imprisonment)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Washington

    Seattle, Washington, 98195-7920

Other trials in United States

About this study

Treating mothers' perinatal depressive and other mental health symptoms alone does not prevent impaired parenting quality and adverse infant outcomes. The goal of this research is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of adding a research-based 10-week home visiting parenting program to evidence-based mental health treatment, to counter the pernicious effects of mothers' symptoms on parenting quality and infant development. Participants will be English and Spanish-speaking low-income mothers who began publicly funded mental/behavioral health treatment in pregnancy at their primary care community health centers.

Read the detailed description

Infants exposed to impaired parenting as a result of their mothers' major depression and other mental health disorders in the perinatal period are at risk for compromised social interaction and affective and behavioral regulation. Depression is the most frequently reported mental health condition during the perinatal period; about 9% of infants under one year have mothers who experience a major depressive episode. That rate nearly triples to 25% for infants of mothers below 200% of the federal poverty level. In addition to poverty, young maternal age, lack of social support, low education, and adverse childhood experiences are all risk factors for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Two strands of research point to the need for effective parenting support for mothers following treatment for mental health conditions in pregnancy. First, depressed mothers frequently fail to accurately notice, interpret, or respond sensitively to infant cues. Alarmingly, mothers' impaired parenting of their infants continues even after their depression has been successfully treated. Second, newborns of prenatally depressed women are physiologically dysregulated and hence more challenging to nurture. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act and Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting, the federal government is supporting states to implement high-quality home visiting programs as part of a comprehensive early childhood system for vulnerable families experiencing the risk factors associated with maternal depression and other mental health symptoms. But two important limitations of home visiting have been identified: child development home visitors are not trained to deal meaningfully with maternal depression and other mental health conditions, and they are often not sufficiently trained to support infant-mother relationships. Our study has the potential to inform intervention programs nationwide by testing the effectiveness of adding a short, attachment-based, home-visiting parenting program to an existing, evidence-based mental health treatment program delivered via community primary care clinics serving pregnant and parenting women from vulnerable populations. The goal of this research is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Promoting First Relationships® for English and Spanish-speaking low-income mothers who were treated for depression or other mental health conditions beginning in pregnancy and as needed in the perinatal year. Treatment will be coordinated through the publicly funded, evidenced-based Mental Health Integration Program for High-Risk Pregnant and Parenting Women (MHIP Moms) in primary care community health centers that target safety-net populations in King County, Washington. Promoting First Relationships® is a research-based, 10-week home visiting program that uses video feedback and strengths-based consultation strategies to increase mothers' parenting competence and confidence. Bilingual community providers will deliver Promoting First Relationships® after a baseline assessment and random assignment at infant age three months. Post tests will occur at infant age six and twelve months. The primary specific aims are to test the effectiveness of PFR to improve parenting quality for low income, English and Spanish speaking mothers who began mental/behavioral health treatment during pregnancy, and to improve social and regulatory outcomes for their infants.

Being tested
Promoting First Relationships®
Keywords
infants, mental health, postpartum period
Medical subject headings
Psychological Well-Being

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Promoting First Relationships®Behavioural

    Also called PFR

    PFR is based on attachment theory and is strengths-based. The 10 week intervention is delivered in the home of the family. Each week has a theme for discussion, handouts, an activity, and time for "joining" - checking in with the parent, listening to her concerns, and establishing a positive, supportive relationship. The PFR provider videotapes playtime between parent and child, and alternates every other week with watching the video with the parent, reflecting about the needs of both parent and child. The provider helps the parent develop greater empathy and understanding of the child's needs and feelings, and helps the parent to identify her own feelings and needs around parenting.

Study groups in NCT02724774
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Promoting First Relationships® (PFR)Experimental10 week home visiting program
Receives: Behavioral: Promoting First Relationships®
Parent Information PacketNo interventionA packet is mailed to the families, including handouts related to child development, health, and local resources.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Parent Sensitivity in Teaching

    Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale: coded from observation of mother interacting with the infant during teaching task. The parenting sensitivity score can range from 0 to 50; higher scores indicate greater sensitivity.

    Measured: Baseline to infant age 12 months

  2. Change in Parent Sensitivity in Play

    Child-Adult Relationship Experimental-Index (CARE-Index): coded from observation of mother and infant in free play activity. Dyadic synchrony and maternal sensitivity scores can range from 0 to 14, with higher scores indicating more positive interactions. [Because maternal sensitivity and dyadic synchrony are correlated .98-.99, only dyadic synchrony will be reported.]

    Measured: Baseline to infant age 12 months

  3. Change in Maternal Confidence

    Maternal Confidence Questionnaire (MCQ; Zahr, 1991): 14-item self report measure rated on a 5-point frequency scale. The mean score can range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater maternal confidence.

    Measured: Baseline to infant age 12 months

  4. Change in Parent Understanding of Toddlers

    Raising a Baby Scale: 16-item self-report measure rated on a 4-point agree/disagree scale. The scores can range from 16 to 64, with higher scores indicating greater parental knowledge.

    Measured: Baseline to infant age 12 months

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change in Infant Interactive Quality

    CARE-Index: coded from observation of mother and infant in free play activity. Child cooperation scores can range from 0 to 14, with higher scores indicating more positive interactions. (Because child cooperation and dyadic synchrony are correlated .95-.96, a different CARE-Index scale with lower correlations with dyadic synchrony (-.32 to .05), child difficultness, will be used).

    Measured: Baseline to infant age 12 months

  2. Infant Behavioral Regulation: Externalizing T Score

    Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment: maternal report of child internalizing, externalizing, and dysregulation problem behaviors. T scores can range from 20 to 99, with higher scores indicating more behavior problems.

    Measured: infant age 12 months

  3. Infant Behavioral Regulation: Internalizing T Score

    Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment: maternal report of child internalizing, externalizing, and dysregulation problem behaviors. T scores can range from 20 to 99, with higher scores indicating more behavior problems.

    Measured: infant age 12 months

  4. Infant Behavioral Regulation: Dysregulation T Score

    Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment: maternal report of child internalizing, externalizing, and dysregulation problem behaviors. T scores can range from 20 to 99, with higher scores indicating more behavior problems.

    Measured: infant age 12 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted31 Mar 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start24 Nov 2015
  3. Primary completion4 Apr 2020
  4. Study completion4 Apr 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
252 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02724774
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00010114
Other IDs
R01HD080851
Status last verified
Nov 2021
First submitted
15 Mar 2016
Last updated
15 Dec 2021
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Barnard, K. E. (1994). What the Teaching Scale measures. In G. S. Sumner & A. Spietz (Eds.), NCAST: Caregiver/parent-child interaction teaching manual. University of Washington NCAST Publications.

  • Kelly, J., & Korfmacher, J. (2008). Raising a baby. University of Washington NCAST Publications.

  • Kelly, J., Sandoval, D., Zuckerman, T. G., & Buehlman, K. (2008). Promoting First Relationships: A program for service providers to help parents and other caregivers nurture young children's social and emotional development (2 ed.). University of Washington NCAST Programs.

  • Zahr LK. The relationship between maternal confidence and mother-infant behaviors in premature infants. Res Nurs Health. 1991 Aug;14(4):279-86. doi: 10.1002/nur.4770140406.

    PubMed 1891613
  • Crittenden, P. M. (1979-2010). CARE-Index: Infant Coding Manual. Family Relations Institute.

  • Carter AS, Briggs-Gowan MJ, Jones SM, Little TD. The Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA): factor structure, reliability, and validity. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2003 Oct;31(5):495-514. doi: 10.1023/a:1025449031360.

    PubMed 14561058
  • Oxford ML, Hash JB, Lohr MJ, Bleil ME, Fleming CB, Unutzer J, Spieker SJ. Randomized trial of promoting first relationships for new mothers who received community mental health services in pregnancy. Dev Psychol. 2021 Aug;57(8):1228-1241. doi: 10.1037/dev0001219.

    PubMed 34591567
  • Hash JB, Nelson DC, Fleming CB, Oxford ML, Lohr MJ, de Castro AB, Bleil ME, Spieker SJ. Expanded adverse childhood experiences and postpartum mental health among an under-resourced sample of Spanish- and English-speaking mothers referred for community-based mental health services during pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2026 Jun 13. doi: 10.1186/s12884-026-09401-w. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 42288803
  • Hash JB, Oxford ML, Nelson DC, Lohr MJ, Fleming CB, de Castro AB, Spieker SJ. Efficacy of Promoting First Relationships(R) for English and Spanish Speakers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Fam Stud. 2025 May;34(5):1135-1150. doi: 10.1007/s10826-024-03003-w. Epub 2025 May 7.

    PubMed 42017170

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Promoting First Relationships® in people with Parenting and Mother-child Relations, run by University of Washington at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Dec 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 15 Dec 2021). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Parent Sensitivity in Teaching (time frame: Baseline to infant age 12 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02724774, which also lists 9 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Dec 2021.

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