Postpartum Depression (PPD)EMA For PNDNCT07382336
A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)
An observational study of Postpartum Depression (PPD), run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This pilot study will recruit 120 perinatal pregnant women and follow them up for 6 months. Both momentary and retrospective assessments of emotional well-being and psychosocial factors will be conducted on a mobile application. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Postpartum Depression (PPD)
- What is being tested?
- Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2023to 1 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Perinatal women
Who may be able to join
- Pregnant women in their first and second trimesters.
- Aged 18 years and older.
- Able to read and understand Chinese
- Own a smartphone with iOS or Android system.
Who cannot join
- Psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., schizophrenia, intellectual disability or mood disorders), comorbid brain conditions (history of epilepsy, stroke, or brain tumors), or learning disabilities.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A Prospective Cohort Validation Study
This pilot study will recruit 120 perinatal pregnant women and follow them up for 6 months. Both momentary and retrospective assessments of emotional well-being and psychosocial factors will be conducted on a mobile application. We aim to understand the symptom trajectories and provide evidence for effective individualized interventions.
Read the detailed description
The proposed study addresses the knowledge gaps regarding the validity of mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for dynamic patterns of mood symptoms and associated factors in women during pregnancy through postnatal period. The investigators hypothesize that the validity of mobile-based EMA is appropriate in women during pregnancy through postnatal period and that participants will exhibit at least two trajectories of depressive symptoms with high and low severity over a six-month period from the third trimester to three months postpartum. This prospective study using single group design will recruit 120 pregnant women for a six-month period. Clinical and self-rating assessments of mood symptoms and lifestyle information will be conducted on a mobile application. There will be a total of six periods EMA assessments and seven retrospective assessments. Six EMA questions for mood, sleep, exercise, physical well-being, and environmental context will be administered three times daily for five consecutive days, and the Edinburgh Postnatal depression Scale will be assessed at baseline and each month during the six-month period. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to examine the feasibility and validity of mobile-based EMA. Hierarchical cluster analysis and multiple regression model will be used to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms, and associated factors.
- Conditions
- Postpartum Depression (PPD)
- Being tested
- Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessment
- Keywords
- Ecological momentary assessment, Postpartum depression
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Postpartum
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessmentDiagnostic test
The intervention includes daily EMA components, and monthly retrospective assessments.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological momentary assessment group | Not described Receives: Diagnostic Test: Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Ecological Momentary Questions (Mood)
Three momentary questions will be administered to assess participants' mood-two yes/no Whooley questions for depression, one question about anxiety, which questions will be mapped onto a five-point pictorial scale, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) points. The higher score means worse outcome.
Measured: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Measures postnatal depression. Each item scores 0-3, and the total score ranges from 0 (min) to 30 (max). Higher score means worse depressive symptoms.
Measured: At the baseline and the end of each of the 6 months in the period.
Secondary outcomes (4)
Ecological Momentary Questions (Lifestyle and Physical Wellbeing)
Three momentary questions will be administered to assess participants' sleep, exercise and physical pain/fatigue; they will be either mapped onto a five-point pictorial scale, ranging from 1 (min) to 5 (max) points (sleep) or presented using yes/no questions (exercise and physical pain/fatigue). For sleep, the higher score means better outcome.
Measured: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.
Ecological Momentary Questions (Contextual)
Two contextual questions will be administered to complement the momentary mood questions. They will assess participants' location and the activity in which they are engaged at the time they answer the six momentary questions.
Measured: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21)
Measures stress symptoms. Each item scores 0-3, the total score for stress ranges from 0 (min) to 21 (max). Higher score means worse symptoms of stress.
Measured: At the baseline and the end of each of the 6 months in the period
Post-study acceptance survey
A questionniare at the end of the six-month study period to assess the acceptability of the app to participants in the context of their prenatal and postnatal care and to collect feedback about their experience with the app.
Measured: The survey will be conducted via online when the participants complete 6-month study.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2023
- Primary completion1 Nov 2025
- Study completion1 Nov 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postpartum Depression (PPD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The University of Hong Kong
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, LIN Jingxia Jessie, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Investigators
- Jessie LIN, PhD, Study chair, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07382336
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20211291
- Other IDs
- 20211291
- Acronym
- EMA For PND
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 17 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: May need to seek approval of the funding body.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A Prospective Cohort Validation Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07382336
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMA For PND / 20211291
- Conditions
- Postpartum Depression (PPD)
- Keywords
- Ecological momentary assessment, Postpartum depression
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The University of Hong Kong
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot study will recruit 120 perinatal pregnant women and follow them up for 6 months. Both momentary and retrospective assessments of emotional well-being and psychosocial factors will be conducted on a mobile application. We aim to understand the symptom trajectories and provide evidence for effective individualized interventions.
Detailed description
The proposed study addresses the knowledge gaps regarding the validity of mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for dynamic patterns of mood symptoms and associated factors in women during pregnancy through postnatal period. The investigators hypothesize that the validity of mobile-based EMA is appropriate in women during pregnancy through postnatal period and that participants will exhibit at least two trajectories of depressive symptoms with high and low severity over a six-month period from the third trimester to three months postpartum. This prospective study using single group design will recruit 120 pregnant women for a six-month period. Clinical and self-rating assessments of mood symptoms and lifestyle information will be conducted on a mobile application. There will be a total of six periods EMA assessments and seven retrospective assessments. Six EMA questions for mood, sleep, exercise, physical well-being, and environmental context will be administered three times daily for five consecutive days, and the Edinburgh Postnatal depression Scale will be assessed at baseline and each month during the six-month period. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to examine the feasibility and validity of mobile-based EMA. Hierarchical cluster analysis and multiple regression model will be used to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms, and associated factors.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological momentary assessment group | – | Diagnostic Test: Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessment |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Perinatal women
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Pregnant women in their first and second trimesters.
- Aged 18 years and older.
- Able to read and understand Chinese
- Own a smartphone with iOS or Android system.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., schizophrenia, intellectual disability or mood disorders), comorbid brain conditions (history of epilepsy, stroke, or brain tumors), or learning disabilities.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessmentThe intervention includes daily EMA components, and monthly retrospective assessments. | Diagnostic test | Ecological momentary assessment group |
Primary outcome
Ecological Momentary Questions (Mood)
Time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.
Three momentary questions will be administered to assess participants' mood-two yes/no Whooley questions for depression, one question about anxiety, which questions will be mapped onto a five-point pictorial scale, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) points. The higher score means worse outcome.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Time frame: At the baseline and the end of each of the 6 months in the period.
Measures postnatal depression. Each item scores 0-3, and the total score ranges from 0 (min) to 30 (max). Higher score means worse depressive symptoms.
4 secondary outcomes
Ecological Momentary Questions (Lifestyle and Physical Wellbeing)
Time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.
Ecological Momentary Questions (Contextual)
Time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21)
Time frame: At the baseline and the end of each of the 6 months in the period
Post-study acceptance survey
Time frame: The survey will be conducted via online when the participants complete 6-month study.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. May need to seek approval of the funding body.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jessie LIN, PhD study chair
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Postpartum Depression (PPD), run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 17 Sep 2026. 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 Hong Kong. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Ecological Momentary Questions (Mood) (time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 17 Sep 2026.