EMA and mHealth in Preventing Postpartum Depression

NCT ID: NCT06777563

Last Updated: 2025-01-16

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

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-08-25

Study Completion Date

2025-08-31

Brief Summary

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This proposed study aims to develop and examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a proactive intervention model that combines brief psychological counselling, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), mHealth-based psychological support, and CBT-guided telephone counselling to prevent postpartum depression (PPD).

Detailed Description

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The target participants are pregnant women between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation with a total EPDS-10 score of ≥7. Sixty participants will be actively recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), a major acute hospital in Hong Kong. Recruitment will extend to other public hospitals if needed.

This study will be a three-arm (allocation ratio:1:1:1; permutated block size of 3, 6, and 9), single-blinded, parallel, pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) with follow-ups at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-enrollment using standard methodology (CONSORT) to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The EMA+IM group (group A) will receive an evidence-based intervention composed of brief psychological counselling and health education, 2-week EMA, mHealth-based psychological support, and CBT-guided telephone counselling, guided by comprehensive assessment. The EMA group (Group B) will only receive a 2-week EMA, and the control group (group C) will receive only brief psychological counselling and health education. Surveys will be collected via telephone after childbirth. Semi-structured individual interviews will be conducted with the participants in the intervention group to understand the experience and the perceptions towards the EMA data collection and mHealth-based intervention on mental health.

The primary clinical outcome of this study will be the difference in the EPDS scores between the two groups at 2 weeks postpartum. Secondary clinical outcomes will include differences in anxiety levels, stress levels, and insomnia symptoms at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postpartum. Differences in participants' self-rated health, family functioning, family well-being and perceived happiness will also be analyzed.

Conditions

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Postpartum Depression (PPD) Ecological Momentary Assessment mHealth Intervention

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Intervention group (EMA + IM)

The EMA+IM group (group A) will receive an evidence-based intervention composed of brief psychological counselling and health education, 2-week EMA, 10-week mHealth-based psychological support, and CBT-guided telephone counselling, guided by comprehensive assessment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Brief psychological counselling and health education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This is a brief 1-on-1 psychological counselling, including potential mood fluctuation during pregnancy, possible prepartum depressive symptoms, and available psychiatric consultation and medication in Hong Kong with self-help psychoeducational materials.

2 Weeks of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The 2-week EMA period will start the next day. Participants will be prompted to answer questions about emotion (e.g. worry, enjoyment, anxiety, etc.) and other lifestyle and environmental triggers through the smartphone notification function. There will be a 2-hour window for each assessment before expiration and total 5 assessments a day.

10 weeks of mobile health psychological support

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A total of 20 regular instant messages (e.g., via WhatsApp) personalised by baseline demographic characteristics (current pregnancy details, history of postpartum mental illness) and results of EMA will be sent to the participants in multi-media formats.

CBT-guided telephone counselling booster

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A 45-minute telephone counselling based on CBT.

EMA group

The EMA group (Group B) will receive brief psychological counselling and health education and 2-week EMA.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Brief psychological counselling and health education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This is a brief 1-on-1 psychological counselling, including potential mood fluctuation during pregnancy, possible prepartum depressive symptoms, and available psychiatric consultation and medication in Hong Kong with self-help psychoeducational materials.

2 Weeks of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The 2-week EMA period will start the next day. Participants will be prompted to answer questions about emotion (e.g. worry, enjoyment, anxiety, etc.) and other lifestyle and environmental triggers through the smartphone notification function. There will be a 2-hour window for each assessment before expiration and total 5 assessments a day.

Control group

The control group (group C) will receive only brief psychological counselling and health education.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Brief psychological counselling and health education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This is a brief 1-on-1 psychological counselling, including potential mood fluctuation during pregnancy, possible prepartum depressive symptoms, and available psychiatric consultation and medication in Hong Kong with self-help psychoeducational materials.

Interventions

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Brief psychological counselling and health education

This is a brief 1-on-1 psychological counselling, including potential mood fluctuation during pregnancy, possible prepartum depressive symptoms, and available psychiatric consultation and medication in Hong Kong with self-help psychoeducational materials.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

2 Weeks of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)

The 2-week EMA period will start the next day. Participants will be prompted to answer questions about emotion (e.g. worry, enjoyment, anxiety, etc.) and other lifestyle and environmental triggers through the smartphone notification function. There will be a 2-hour window for each assessment before expiration and total 5 assessments a day.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

10 weeks of mobile health psychological support

A total of 20 regular instant messages (e.g., via WhatsApp) personalised by baseline demographic characteristics (current pregnancy details, history of postpartum mental illness) and results of EMA will be sent to the participants in multi-media formats.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

CBT-guided telephone counselling booster

A 45-minute telephone counselling based on CBT.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Pregnant women who are in their 20 to 28 weeks of gestation,
2. Receiving regular antenatal care service in Hong Kong,
3. Had a total score ≥7 in EPDS-10 (suggesting potential distress symptoms),
4. Able to read and understand Chinese and use an instant messaging app weekly

Exclusion Criteria

1\) Pregnant women who are undergoing psychiatric/psychological treatment.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

The Queen Mary Hospital

Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Shengzhi Zhao, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+852 6561 4500

Mengyao Li, Mphil

Role: CONTACT

+852 6851 8462

Facility Contacts

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Shengzhi Zhao, Phd

Role: primary

+852 6561 4500

Mengyao Li, Mphil

Role: backup

+852 6851 8462

Shengzhi Zhao, Phd

Role: primary

+852 6561 4500

Other Identifiers

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PPD prevention

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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