NCT07162129

Online Transdiagnostic Group CBT for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Online Transdiagnostic Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: McMaster University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to test the feasibility of an online 10-Week group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT; a type of talking therapy) intervention for postpartum depression and anxiety that is led by psychotherapists, social workers, a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist. Mothers and birthing parents who are 18 years or older, have an infant under 12 months, living in Ontario and who have postpartum depression and/or anxiety symptoms will be assigned with a 50/50 chance (like flipping a coin) to receive online transdiagnostic group CBT in addition to usual postnatal care, or to receive usual postnatal care only.

Detailed description

This study will involve a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine the feasibility of a 10-week group CBT intervention for treating postpartum depression and anxiety and study procedures. Primary feasibility objectives include recruitment, completion of study measures, retention and participant satisfaction/acceptability of the intervention. The secondary objective of the pilot RCT is to estimate the treatment effects on PPD and anxiety symptoms to guide the conduct of a future full-scale RCT of the intervention. 48 Participants will be assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental (transdiagnostic CBT group plus treatment as usual (TAU)) or control group (TAU alone). Participants in both groups will complete all study questionnaires at baseline (T1), 10 weeks later (T2 - immediately post-intervention in the experimental group to assess effectiveness), and 6 months after enrollment (T3 - intervention durability). Participants in the treatment group will complete a satisfaction questionnaire with three open-ended questions that will explore their experiences and recommendations for improving the intervention.

Conditions

• Postpartum Depression (PPD)
• Postpartum Anxiety

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Anxiety	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy (talk therapy). Each session will be two hours in duration. The 1st hour involves teaching and practice of CBT skills followed by one hour of unstructured discussion about topics relevant to PPD and PPA (sleep, supports, transitions). Each group will be delivered online via Zoom and guided by our intervention manual.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-09
• Primary completion: 2026-09-01
• Completion: 2026-09-01
• First posted: 2025-09-09
• Last updated: 2026-01-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada