Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy or Antidepressant Medication for Antenatal Depression

Summary

Purpose: To compare a novel psychotherapy, Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy (PA-IPT), with treatment as usual (TAU) in a sample of pregnant women seeking treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Perinatal Psychiatry Program.

Participants: 52 women, ages 18-45, who are 16-29 weeks pregnant and experiencing a depressive episode, and their partners.

Methods: Women and their identified partners will complete a diagnostic interview, complete measures of depressive symptom severity at baseline, and be randomized to treatment with PA-IPT or TAU. Women randomized to TAU will be treated by UNC physicians according to the UNC-CH Perinatal Psychiatry Program's algorithm for treatment of prenatal MDD (usually one of a number of antidepressant medications, tailored to the individual, although some women may opt against medication altogether and still be eligible to enroll). Women randomized to PA-IPT will participate in 8 therapy sessions with their identified partner over a 12-week period, along with one refresher session at or around 6 weeks postpartum. Women and partners will be assessed for change in depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction during pregnancy at visits 4 and 8, and postpartum at 6-week and 6-month visits.

Hypothesis: The investigators anticipate notable improvement in both groups similar in magnitude, however it is hypothesized that couples participating in PA-IPT will have higher relationship satisfaction post-treatment (controlling for baseline satisfaction) than those receiving TAU.

Conditions

• Partner Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Treatment as Usual

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Partner-Assisted Interpersonal Psychotherapy

OTHER

Treatment as Usual

Because treatment(s) are prescribed for subjects by the UNC Perinatal Psychiatry physicians, it is impossible for the investigators to list each potential medication and dosage that might be prescribed to women randomized to this condition. The medication regimens are individual, and some women may opt against medication altogether (and still be eligible to enroll). Women who refuse antidepressant medication will attend visits at the same intervals as those in the study arms for evaluation of safety and symptoms.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anna R. Brandon, PhD, MSCS · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-11-30

Primary Completion

2013-12-31

Completion

2013-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations