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Perinatal DepressionNCT03427528

Development, Feasibility and Acceptability of Fathers and Babies (FAB): A Pilot Study

A study testing Fathers and Babies (FAB) and MB 1-on-1 plus TXT in people with Perinatal Depression and Postpartum Depression, run by Northwestern University 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

During this project the investigators will develop and pilot test a companion intervention for fathers (Fathers and Babies-FAB), to supplement the Mothers and Babies Course (MB) that provides stress and mood management tools for home visiting clients. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Fathers and Babies (FAB) and MB 1-on-1 plus TXT
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
15 Feb 2018to 4 Sep 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
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • English-speaking women >18 years old enrolled in home visiting programs who are in their 1st or 2nd or 3rd Trimester will be eligible for enrollment
  • Male partners of English-speaking women >18 years old enrolled in home visiting programs who are in their 1st or 2nd or 3rd Trimester will be eligible for enrollment
  • Note: Both parents/partners are required to participate in this study, not just one or the other.

Who cannot join

None listed.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Integrating Text Messages Into the Mothers and Babies Course to Address Depression in Low-Income Women and Their Partners

During this project the investigators will develop and pilot test a companion intervention for fathers (Fathers and Babies-FAB), to supplement the Mothers and Babies Course (MB) that provides stress and mood management tools for home visiting clients. Focus groups with prior study participants, their male partners, and home visiting staff will be used to develop the FAB curriculum and protocol. FAB text messages aim to improve the mental health of the male partner and help him support his partner's mental health. Feasibility, acceptability, and outcome measures will be supplemented with assessments of fathers' mental health and partners' relationships. Participant assessments will be conducted at baseline, 3 and 6 months in this uncontrolled pilot study. The public health significance and innovation of this project is substantial. If the investigators are able to integrate MB-TXT and MB-DAD into home visiting programs and generate improved mental health outcomes for home visiting clients and their partners, the investigators will be prepared to replicate this intervention across home visiting programs nationally at a time when home visitation as a service delivery model for families with infants and young children is rapidly proliferating through federal funding.

Read the detailed description

Enhancements to Mothers and Babies are warranted to address the mental health of both parents, via the home visitation service delivery model where many of the most at-risk families enter into provider-client relationships during their child's infancy and early childhood.

Previous postpartum depression preventive interventions-including MB-have neglected to intervene with partners of pregnant women, despite the growing recognition that paternal depression also exerts influence on children's social-emotional development and occurs in a similar time-frame. Thus, in an otherwise successful intervention, these limitations-mixed success in improving hypothesized intervention mechanisms and limited engagement of fathers-may mitigate intervention efficacy. Paternal depression is hypothesized to mediate the relationship between MB modules and maternal mental health outcomes.

This study addresses this limitation. The investigators will collaborate with 10-12 home visiting (HV) programs serving primarily low-income families. The investigators will recruit 24 mother-father dyads for an uncontrolled pilot in which mothers will receive MB-TXT and fathers will receive FAB, a pilot curriculum developed using existing materials and data collected via qualitative research with home visiting clients, their partners, and home visiting staff.

Aim 1. To develop and determine the feasibility and acceptability of a) conducting the MB-DAD intervention protocol and b) assessing paternal and dyadic outcomes across two home visiting programs. Focus groups with prior trial participants, their male partners, and home visiting staff will generate information on a) intervention content, b) frequency of contact, and c) relationship to MB materials received by their partner.

Being tested
Fathers and Babies (FAB), MB 1-on-1 plus TXT
Medical subject headings
Depression, Postpartum, Depression

What participants receive

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

  • Fathers and Babies (FAB)Behavioural

    The initial FAB session was delivered in person or by phone by the home visitor working with the mother, and lasted 30 min on average. Subsequent sessions were delivered, in-person, via text message with embedded links to online content, or a mix of both in-person and text messages, depending on the preference and availability of the father. Fathers received three to six text messages per FAB session.

  • MB 1-on-1 plus TXTBehavioural

    Home visiting clients received the Mothers and Babies with -Text Messages intervention in person during regular scheduled home visits (i.e., MB 1-on-1 plus MB-TXT). After each in person session home visiting clients receive three messages to reinforce skill practice and remind them about their personal projects.

Study groups in NCT03427528
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
FAB Pilot Study (Father/Male Participants)ExperimentalFathers (male partners) received Fathers and Babies (FAB). FAB is a 12-session intervention with content that mirrors content found in MB, but was father-centric. The initial FAB session was delivered in person or by phone by the home visitor working with the mother, and lasted 30 min on average. Subsequent sessions were delivered, in-person, via text message with embedded links to online content, or a mix of both in-person and text messages, depending on the preference and availability of the father. Fathers received three to six text messages per FAB session.
Receives: Behavioral: Fathers and Babies (FAB)
MB 1-on-1 Plus TEXT (Mother/Female Participants)ExperimentalHome visiting clients received the Mothers and Babies with -Text Messages intervention in person during regular scheduled home visits (i.e., MB 1-on-1 plus MB-TXT) while her partner received Fathers and Babies in parallel. MB 1-on-1 is 12-sessions and is a postpartum depression preventive intervention. MB includes an introductory module followed by three cognitive-behavioral therapy modules: (1) pleasant activities, (2) thoughts, and (3) contact with others. After each in person session home visiting clients receive three messages to reinforce skill practice and remind them about their personal projects.
Receives: Behavioral: MB 1-on-1 plus TXT

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Depressive Symptoms

    Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (Beck et al., 1988). The BDI-II was used to assess severity of depressive symptoms consistent with DSM-IV symptom criteria. The BDI-II is a 21-item survey, each item asks respondents to indicate on a scale ranging from 0 to 3 the extent to which they endorse different symptoms of depression over the past two weeks with higher scores indicating greater depression severity, with the highest score of 63.

    0-10-considered normal 11-16 Mild mood disturbance 17-20 Borderline clinical depression 21-30 Moderate depression 31-40 Severe depression Over 40 Extreme depression.

    Measured: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months

  2. Change in Anxiety

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) (Spitzer et al., 2006). The GAD-7 is a 7-item survey, each item asks respondents to indicate on a 4-point scale the extent to which they endorse different symptoms of anxiety over the past two weeks with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms. The highest score is 21.

    Score 0-4: Minimal Anxiety Score 5-9: Mild Anxiety Score 10-14: Moderate Anxiety Score greater than 15: Severe Anxiety

    Measured: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months

  3. Change in Perceived Stress

    Perceived Stress Scale 10-item Scale (PSS-10) (Cohen \& Williamson, 1988). The PSS-10 is a 10-item survey that asks respondents to indicate on a 5-point scale the extent to which they appraised certain situations as stressful over the past month, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Individual scores on the PSS can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

    0-13 are considered low stress Scores ranging from 14-26 are considered moderate stress Scores ranging from 27-40 are considered high perceived stress

    Measured: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Change in Social Support Effectiveness

    Social Support Effectiveness Questionnaire (SSE-Q) (Rini et al., 2011). The SSE-Q is a 25-item survey that asks respondents to indicate the extent to which their partners provided different types of support in the past three months. The SSE-Q consists of subscales on task support, informational support, emotional support, and negative effects of support. For this study, we calculated a total social support score that summed these four subscales (range 0-80). High scores indicate more effective support. Full scale scores can range from 0 to 80, and each subscale can range from 0 to 20.

    Measured: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months

  2. Instrumental Social Support Support Survey (Cyranowski et al., 2013).

    The measure consists of 8 questions and asks respondents to indicate on a 5-point scale the extent to which they have received different types of instrumental support in the last month. Higher scores indicate greater support. We report on the count and percentage of individuals with high instrumental support at each time point.

    Measured: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months

  3. Emotional Support Support (Cyranowski et al., 2013)

    NIH Toolbox Emotional Support Support Survey. The survey consists of 8 questions and asks respondents to indicate on a 5-point scale the extent to which they have received different types of emotional support in the last month. Higher scores indicate greater support. We report on the count and percentage of individuals with high emotional support at each time point.

    Measured: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted9 Feb 2018
  2. Study start15 Feb 2018
  3. Primary completion4 Sep 2020
  4. Study completion4 Sep 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
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
We will conduct an uncontrolled pilot study examining acceptability and feasibility of the Fathers and Babies (FAB) curriculum.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03427528
Sponsor's protocol ID
STU00203918-B
Other IDs
1R21MD011320-01
Status last verified
Jul 2022
First submitted
29 Jan 2018
Last updated
18 Jul 2022
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Evans J, Heron J, Francomb H, Oke S, Golding J. Cohort study of depressed mood during pregnancy and after childbirth. BMJ. 2001 Aug 4;323(7307):257-60. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7307.257.

    PubMed 11485953
  • Gaynes BN, Gavin N, Meltzer-Brody S, Lohr KN, Swinson T, Gartlehner G, Brody S, Miller WC. Perinatal depression: prevalence, screening accuracy, and screening outcomes. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2005 Feb;(119):1-8. doi: 10.1037/e439372005-001. No abstract available.

    PubMed 15760246
  • Moses-Kolko EL, Roth EK. Antepartum and postpartum depression: healthy mom, healthy baby. J Am Med Womens Assoc (1972). 2004 Summer;59(3):181-91.

    PubMed 15354371
  • Segre LS, O'Hara MW, Arndt S, Stuart S. The prevalence of postpartum depression: the relative significance of three social status indices. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2007 Apr;42(4):316-21. doi: 10.1007/s00127-007-0168-1. Epub 2007 Feb 13.

    PubMed 17370048
  • Robertson E, Grace S, Wallington T, Stewart DE. Antenatal risk factors for postpartum depression: a synthesis of recent literature. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2004 Jul-Aug;26(4):289-95. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2004.02.006.

    PubMed 15234824
  • Beebe B, Jaffe J, Buck K, Chen H, Cohen P, Blatt S, Kaminer T, Feldstein S, Andrews H. Six-week postpartum maternal self-criticism and dependency and 4-month mother-infant self- and interactive contingencies. Dev Psychol. 2007 Nov;43(6):1360-76. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.43.6.1360.

    PubMed 18020817
  • Murray L, Cooper PJ, Wilson A, Romaniuk H. Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression: 2. Impact on the mother-child relationship and child outcome. Br J Psychiatry. 2003 May;182:420-7.

    PubMed 12724245
  • National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Prevention of Mental Disorders and Substance Abuse Among Children, Youth, and Young Adults: Research Advances and Promising Interventions; O'Connell ME, Boat T, Warner KE, editors. Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK32775/

    PubMed 20662125
  • Dave S, Sherr L, Senior R, Nazareth I. Associations between paternal depression and behaviour problems in children of 4-6 years. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Aug;17(5):306-15. doi: 10.1007/s00787-007-0672-6. Epub 2008 Mar 25.

    PubMed 18365134
  • Ramchandani PG, Stein A, O'Connor TG, Heron J, Murray L, Evans J. Depression in men in the postnatal period and later child psychopathology: a population cohort study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Apr;47(4):390-398. doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e31816429c2.

    PubMed 18388761
  • Fletcher RJ, Feeman E, Garfield C, Vimpani G. The effects of early paternal depression on children's development. Med J Aust. 2011 Dec 19;195(11-12):685-9. doi: 10.5694/mja11.10192.

    PubMed 22171866
  • Davis RN, Davis MM, Freed GL, Clark SJ. Fathers' depression related to positive and negative parenting behaviors with 1-year-old children. Pediatrics. 2011 Apr;127(4):612-8. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-1779. Epub 2011 Mar 14.

    PubMed 21402627
  • Tandon SD, Perry DF, Mendelson T, Kemp K, Leis JA. Preventing perinatal depression in low-income home visiting clients: a randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011 Oct;79(5):707-12. doi: 10.1037/a0024895.

    PubMed 21806298
  • Tandon SD, Leis JA, Mendelson T, Perry DF, Kemp K. Six-month outcomes from a randomized controlled trial to prevent perinatal depression in low-income home visiting clients. Matern Child Health J. 2014 May;18(4):873-81. doi: 10.1007/s10995-013-1313-y.

    PubMed 23793487
  • Mendelson T, Leis JA, Perry DF, Stuart EA, Tandon SD. Impact of a preventive intervention for perinatal depression on mood regulation, social support, and coping. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2013 Jun;16(3):211-8. doi: 10.1007/s00737-013-0332-4. Epub 2013 Mar 2.

    PubMed 23456540

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Fathers and Babies (FAB) and MB 1-on-1 plus TXT in people with Perinatal Depression and Postpartum Depression, run by Northwestern University 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 3 inclusion and 0 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 18 Jul 2022. 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 18 Jul 2022). 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 Depressive Symptoms (time frame: Baseline and Post Intervention at 3 and 6 months). The study lists 3 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 NCT03427528, which also lists 99 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 18 Jul 2022.

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