Behavioural Activation (Intervention for Postnatal Depression) V2.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot of a Behavioural Activation programme specifically adapted to support women experiencing postnatal depression in Blackpool.
IRAS ID
230805
Contact name
Claire Francesca Mills
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NSPCC
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Postnatal depression (PND) can have a negative effect on many new mothers and their children. Mothers with PND are less responsive and demonstrate fewer positive mother-infant interactions, which can have a big impact on infant's ability to learn and develop. Despite this, health professionals can struggle to identify women with PND and the number of women independently seeking help for PND remains low. Behavioural Activation (BA) is an evidence-based psychological intervention for depression which has shown comparable outcomes to Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other biomedical treatments in the general population. Researchers have adapted BA to suit the needs of postnatal mothers and found significant reductions in depressive symptoms in two internet based studies, one of which included guided telephone support.
The adapted BA programme will be piloted in Blackpool for one year (from November 2019) with five NHS Health Visitors trained as Behavioural Activation practitioners. Phase 1 of the pilot will recruit ten mothers to examine the possibility of the intervention being acceptable in Blackpool. Phase 2 will recruit 50 mothers to assess how effective the programme is in reducing symptoms of depression. To build upon previous research, the programme will be delivered in the home by Health Visitors which may further improve treatment adherence, completion rates and outcomes for mothers and their infants. In Phase 1 and 2 women with moderate PhQ9 scores assessed by practitioners in the first six months after birth will be eligible to participate in the programme. They will be offered six one hour sessions of Behavioural Activation. The research is funded by The Big Lottery as part of the 10 year Blackpool Better Start Initiative, coordinated by the Centre for Early Child Development which aims to improve outcomes for 0-4year old children across the town.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0689
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion