laytonh@mcmaster.ca

CBT delivered in group format has been shown to be as effective as individual CBT in treating depression during the perinatal period and has the potential to reduce cost, therapist time, wait times for patients, and increase the number of patients that can be treated. In addition, group CBT facilitates support, normalization of symptoms, and opportunity to learn via modelling that it provides.

 

We have adapted a previously validated 1-day CBT workshop for depression for use with women experiencing PPD and living in the community and have trained women who previously recovered from PPD (lay-peers) to deliver the intervention. We will randomize women to the experimental group (immediate treatment) or the waitlist control group (treatment 12 weeks later) and compare changes in depression, mother-infant attachment, service utilization, quality of life, and offspring behaviour.

 

If this intervention is eventually proven effective, more women would receive treatment and

the burden of PPD on women, families, and the healthcare system would be significantly

reduced.

 

1) To determine if online 1-Day CBT-Based Workshops for PPD delivered by trained lay peers added to care as usual during the COVID-19 pandemic improve PPD more than usual care alone

 

2) Make he workshops cost-effective

 

3) Reduce the impact of the common comorbidities and complications of PPD (anxiety, partner relationship discord, social support, infant temperament, parenting stress, and poorer mother-infant attachment)