Parenting Skills Group for Mothers With Postpartum Depression

NCT ID: NCT05772897

Last Updated: 2023-11-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

750 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-08-03

Study Completion Date

2035-06-01

Brief Summary

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The goal of this longitudinal study is to study the effects of a parenting skills group (Circle of Security Parenting, aka COSP) in mothers with postpartum depression. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Will changes in methylation of the OXTR rs53576 be apparent in mother and/or infant after having gone through the 8-week COSP program?
* Will COSP participation be associated with improved symptoms of postpartum depression (over and above standard care), attachment style, and relational characteristics of the mother-infant dyad?
* Will COSP participation be associated with changes in social behavior in the infant, and if so, do they persist throughout childhood?

Participants will

* Participate in an 8-week COSP program delivered remotely via Zoom.
* Provide buccal swabs (mother and infant) to assess changes in methylation of OXTR rs53576 pre- versus post-intervention.
* Complete a series of assessment questionnaires delivered remotely.
* Videotape a play-based assessment in their home.
* Receive infant developmental testing

Researchers will compare characteristics of waitlist controls to those participating in the COSP program at the mid-way point of the program to see if the two groups differ.

Detailed Description

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The primary aims of this study are to 1) better understand the biological/genetic mechanisms and processes of behavior change in mothers and babies relating to oxytocin receptor gene methylation; 2) complete an outcome assessment of the efficacy of the COSP intervention using a tele-health format, specifically in relation to treating maternal depression; 3) to better understand the mechanisms and processes of change in relation to maternal and infant co-regulation achieved through the promotion of a secure attachment between mothers and their at-risk infants, and to understand how these processes form a trajectory of behavioral outcomes in kindergarten.

The COSP program lasts for 8 weeks and will be delivered via Zoom. Researchers will collect a variety of data including biological samples, self-report questionnaires, developmental assessment, and direct observation to assess predictors and outcomes relating to participation in the COSP program. Data will be collected prior to starting COSP, half-way through participation, after having completed the program, and at several timepoints following completion.

Conditions

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Postpartum Depression

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

All participants will ultimately receive the parenting group intervention. A waitlist control design will be implemented to compare outcomes between those not having received the intervention yet and those having completed it. Data collection will occur pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, at 6 months post-intervention, at 12 months post-intervention, and at approximately 5 years post-intervention (when child is school-aged).
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) group

This group of mothers will be assigned to begin the parenting skills intervention (COSP) group soon after enrollment, and data collection (developmental testing, buccal swabs, play-based assessment, questionnaires) will proceed as planned. COSP groups will be conducted remotely via Zoom.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Circle of Security Parenting program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) program is an 8- week group parenting course that was designed using decades of attachment research to foster a secure attachment by teaching parents to read and respond to infant cues, and to recognize the interplay between their own psychological and emotional experiences and the emotional regulation of their infants. The COSP program provides parents with relationship tools and techniques for understanding their children's needs in new ways that provide lasting security for the child and more satisfaction for the parent. There are two major themes in the program: 1) teaching parents how to read their children's behavior and use it as a guide for meeting their needs and 2) helping parents to understand how their own early attachment relationships have influenced them as a person, and how those influences show up in their parenting and impact their ability to help regulate their child and respond to their needs.

Waitlist Control Group

This group of mothers will be assigned to a waitlist control group and will be scheduled to begin the parenting skills group at a later time. In order to serve as a no-intervention control, they will be administered assessments while on the waiting list. These assessments will be given concurrently with mid-point assessment of the intervention group.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Circle of Security Parenting program

The Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) program is an 8- week group parenting course that was designed using decades of attachment research to foster a secure attachment by teaching parents to read and respond to infant cues, and to recognize the interplay between their own psychological and emotional experiences and the emotional regulation of their infants. The COSP program provides parents with relationship tools and techniques for understanding their children's needs in new ways that provide lasting security for the child and more satisfaction for the parent. There are two major themes in the program: 1) teaching parents how to read their children's behavior and use it as a guide for meeting their needs and 2) helping parents to understand how their own early attachment relationships have influenced them as a person, and how those influences show up in their parenting and impact their ability to help regulate their child and respond to their needs.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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COSP

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Mothers aged 18-50 years old with infants aged 3-14 months old
* Mothers who are experiencing symptoms of depression and mothers who are not experiencing symptoms of depression (non-depressed controls) are encouraged to participate.

(please note that mothers who are experiencing active depression and who are not already being treated under the care of a qualified healthcare provider (i.e. through therapy or psychopharmacological intervention) will be referred for such treatment prior to being enrolled in the study. This study is not a replacement for professional management of depression or other mental health symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria

* Mothers with severe psychopathology (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, among others)
* Infants with major medical problems that may interfere with a mother's ability to participate in and benefit from the intervention
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Colorado, Denver

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Sunny Stophaeros, MS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

[email protected]

Locations

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University of Colorado Denver

Denver, Colorado, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Sunny Stophaeros, MS

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 9253392971

Email: [email protected]

Caroline R Harrison, MPH

Role: CONTACT

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Sunny Stophaeros, MS

Role: primary

Caroline R Harrison, MPH

Role: backup

References

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Other Identifiers

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21-2593

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id