A Postpartum Adaptation Study of the Connecting and Reflecting Experience Parenting Program

Description

Experiencing postpartum mood and/or anxiety disorders (like postpartum depression; PMADs) can make parenting challenging, but group therapy may help both these parents and their babies. This study will test whether postpartum parents with PMADs find a 12-session parenting group therapy to be likable, doable, and helpful for mental health, parenting stress, and relationship with their infant. The therapy that is being tested is called the Connecting and Reflecting Experience (CARE) parenting program, which has not yet been used specifically with postpartum parents with PMADs, but has been found to be appealing and helpful among parents/caregivers of older children with mental health conditions. CARE focuses on parents' ability to consider how their own and their children's thoughts, feelings, intentions, and other mental states shape behavior and parent-child relationships. Participants in the study will be asked to fill out surveys before, during, and after participating in the group therapy. Adults may be eligible to participate in the study if they gave birth to an infant who is now 3 to 12 months old, are receiving postpartum medical and/or mental health care at Montefiore Medical Center, and have experienced postpartum depression and/or anxiety.

Conditions

Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, Parenting Stress, Parent Child Relationships

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Experiencing postpartum mood and/or anxiety disorders (like postpartum depression; PMADs) can make parenting challenging, but group therapy may help both these parents and their babies. This study will test whether postpartum parents with PMADs find a 12-session parenting group therapy to be likable, doable, and helpful for mental health, parenting stress, and relationship with their infant. The therapy that is being tested is called the Connecting and Reflecting Experience (CARE) parenting program, which has not yet been used specifically with postpartum parents with PMADs, but has been found to be appealing and helpful among parents/caregivers of older children with mental health conditions. CARE focuses on parents' ability to consider how their own and their children's thoughts, feelings, intentions, and other mental states shape behavior and parent-child relationships. Participants in the study will be asked to fill out surveys before, during, and after participating in the group therapy. Adults may be eligible to participate in the study if they gave birth to an infant who is now 3 to 12 months old, are receiving postpartum medical and/or mental health care at Montefiore Medical Center, and have experienced postpartum depression and/or anxiety.

A Postpartum Adaptation Study of the Connecting and Reflecting Experience Parenting Program

A Postpartum Adaptation Study of the Connecting and Reflecting Experience Parenting Program

Condition
Postpartum Depression
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Bronx

Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, United States, 10470

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Birthing parent (of any gender) of an infant age 3-12 months old at baseline
  • * Receiving postpartum OB/GYN or mental health services at Montefiore Medical Center
  • * Experienced or currently experiencing moderate to high levels of depression and/or anxiety symptoms in the postpartum period
  • * English-speaking
  • * Prior participation in a Connecting and Reflecting Experience (CARE) group at any time
  • * Participation in another parenting-focused group during the current postpartum period
  • * Current episode of psychosis or mania
  • * Psychiatric, neurocognitive, or substance use related difficulties necessitating a higher level of care than outpatient support (e.g., current inpatient treatment) or that would impede group participation (e.g., severe cognitive impairment)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Montefiore Medical Center,

Amanda Zayde, Psy.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Study Record Dates

2025-06