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Preventing Childbirth-Related PTSD With Expressive Writing

NCT05662423 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 136

Last updated 2026-05-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a brief psychological intervention given to individuals in the first days following childbirth who have experienced a potentially stressful childbirth. The treatment is aimed at preventing post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth and promoting maternal-infant bonding.

In the days following childbirth, participants will be asked to write about their childbirth experience or a neutral event for three consecutive days, for around 15 minutes each day. Additionally, they will complete a short survey before and after the intervention about their birth experience and mental health. Around 2 months postpartum (with the option of up to around Month 3 PP), participants will take part in mental health and physiological assessments, and in a brief play session with their infant.

Conditions

  • PTSD (Childbirth-Related)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Expressive Writing about Childbirth

Participants will write repeatedly about their deepest emotions and thoughts related to their recent childbirth, focusing on the most stressful experiences.

BEHAVIORAL

Neutral Writing

Participants will write repeatedly about neutral daily events/tasks not related to childbirth.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
50 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-11-08
Primary Completion
2026-07-20
Completion
2026-07-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05662423 on ClinicalTrials.gov