NCT05398107

Brief Summary

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, postpartum depression and anxiety has increased dramatically. This is problematic as mothers in Manitoba must wait 12-18 months for therapeutic services. Children exposed to maternal mental illness in the first few years of life are at risk of negative lifelong adverse effects. Thus, the investigators of this project created and have tested The Building Emotion Awareness and Mental health (BEAM) program, which is an app-based mental health and parenting program for mothers of young children who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety. BEAM is now ready to be tested in partnership with an established community agency. This partnership will enable counsellors to provide expert-led mental health treatment to supplement and expand upon existing mental health services and will enable an established agency to address widespread unmet family mental health needs through the provision of mobile health (mHealth) content, training, and consultation. A two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with repeated measures will be used to evaluate the BEAM program compared to MoodMission (an evidence-based mHealth program) which will be the standard of care. Outcomes will be assessed to determine the effects of the BEAM program on reducing maternal mental health symptoms among a sample of 80 mothers who self-report moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety (on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively), meet criteria for a current major depressive episode and/or anxiety disorder (as determined on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) and have a child between the ages of 6 to 18 months old.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
80

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2022

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 28, 2022

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 26, 2022

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 31, 2022

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 30, 2022

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 30, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

March 22, 2023

Status Verified

March 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

6 months

First QC Date

April 26, 2022

Last Update Submit

March 20, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

Mental healthParentingMaternalPsychoeducationE-healthmhealth

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in maternal depression

    Symptoms of depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 is a self-administered questionnaire with possible scores ranging from 0 to 27, where higher scores are indicative of more severe symptoms. Data analyses will assess total Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores as well as cut-off scores (≥ 10).

    The PHQ-9 will be administered during the eligibility screening (up to 2 months before randomization), pre-intervention (T1), during the weekly surveys (up to 11 weeks), after the intervention (T2; after week 12), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

  • Changes in maternal anxiety

    Symptoms of anxiety will be assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item scale. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Item is a self-administered questionnaire with possible scores ranging from 0 to 21, where higher scores are indicative of more severe symptoms. Data analyses will assess total Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Item scores as well as cut off scores (≥ 10).

    The GAD-7 will be completed during the eligibility screening (up to 2 months before randomization), pre-intervention (T1), during the weekly surveys (up to 11 weeks), after the intervention (T2; after week 12), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

Secondary Outcomes (9)

  • Changes in parenting stress

    To be assessed pre-intervention (T1; up to 2 months before the start of the intervention), immediately after the intervention (T2: 11 weeks after start of intervention), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

  • Changes in maternal sleep disturbance

    To be assessed pre-intervention (T1; up to 2 months before the start of the intervention), immediately after the intervention (T2; 11 weeks after start of intervention), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

  • Changes in maternal anger

    To be assessed pre-intervention (T1; up to 2 months before the start of the intervention), immediately after the intervention (T2; 11 weeks after start of intervention), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

  • Change in maternal self-efficacy

    To be assessed pre-intervention (T1; up to 2 months before the start of the intervention), immediately after the intervention (T2;11 weeks after start of intervention), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

  • Change in maternal substance use

    To be assessed pre-intervention (T1; up to 2 months before the start of the intervention), immediately after the intervention (T2; 11 weeks after start of intervention), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3).

  • +4 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (2)

  • Usability of the BEAM program

    To be assessed immediately after the intervention (T2; 11 weeks after start of intervention).

  • Program engagement

    To be assessed immediately after the intervention (T2; 11 weeks after start of intervention).

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: The BEAM program

EXPERIMENTAL

The BEAM Program is delivered through a mobile application, weekly group telehealth sessions, and an online community forum. BEAM includes \~ 20 minutes of weekly video modules on parenting and mental health. Mental health videos provide content and emotion-regulation strategies drawn from the Unified Protocol, an evidence-based treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. Self-compassion and effective communication are also central focuses of the mental health content. Supportive parenting videos will provide mothers with emotion-focused parenting strategies and help mothers understand and respond to their children's challenging emotions and behaviours. The weekly group telehealth sessions will allow mothers to discuss content and ask questions, with the purpose of developing a sense of community and social support. The online community forum will provide a space for mothers to reflect on their learned skills and connect with other mothers taking part in the program.

Behavioral: Experimental: Building Emotion Awareness and Mental Health (BEAM)

Standard of Care: MoodMission

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

MoodMission is an evidence-based app which was developed based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The MoodMission app will provide mothers with missions. Missions are mental health strategies based on scientific evidence which are easily achievable (e.g., relaxation tips, exercise and fitness activities, yoga, mindfulness meditations, affirmations and coping statements). MoodMission will tailor missions based on the mothers current mood.

Behavioral: Control: MoodMission

Interventions

The BEAM Program is based on best-practices in telehealth and science-based program design aimed at promoting maternal mental health and supportive parenting. The BEAM Program app is hosted on the University of Manitoba secure servers and is designed/managed by Tactica Interactive. The weekly group telehealth sessions will be led by clinical coaches (a mental health professional or Doctoral-Level Clinical Psychology Student) and will use the secure videoconferencing platform Zoom (Healthcare license). Parent coaches will be mothers who have recently participated in a prior iteration of the BEAM program. Parent coaches will engage with participants on the community peer support forum and will also attend weekly telehealth sessions. The therapeutic aims of the BEAM program are to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as parenting skills, and will emphasize self-compassion, effective communication practices, and social support networks.

Experimental: The BEAM program

MoodMission will be used as our Standard of Care control group. MoodMission is an app based on CBT principles which creates tailored "missions" for mothers. These missions are based on self-reported mood and are aimed to improve mental health symptoms.

Standard of Care: MoodMission

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Mother with a child 6 to 18 months old
  • Moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety (i.e., a score at or above 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire and/or the General Anxiety Disorder scale)
  • Comfortable understanding, speaking, and reading English
  • Residing in the province of Manitoba, Canada
  • Willing to complete pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up questionnaires (approximately 45 minutes each)
  • Willing to complete a one hour mental health interview with a trained student on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
  • Meets criteria for a major depressive episode or anxiety disorder (i.e., (i.e., panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder)
  • Availability to attend weekly telehealth sessions

You may not qualify if:

  • Suicide attempt within the past year
  • Self-harm in past 6 months
  • Clinically significant psychotic symptoms on the MINI
  • A diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder on the MINI which, in clinical opinion, would make it impossible for the mother to participate in the program
  • A diagnosis of severe alcohol use disorder and/or a substance use disorder on the MINI which, in clinical opinion, would make it impossible for the mother to participate in the program
  • Lives outside of Manitoba, Canada
  • Does not meet criteria for moderate-to-severe depression and/or anxiety on the PHQ-9 and/or GAD-7
  • Child is outside of the 6 to 18 month age range

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Manitoba - Department of Psychology

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Joyce KM, Rioux C, MacKinnon AL, Katz LY, Reynolds K, Kelly LE, Klassen T, Afifi TO, Mushquash AR, Clement FM, Chartier M, Xie EB, Penner KE, Hunter S, Berard L, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Roos LE. The Building Emotional Awareness and Mental health (BEAM) program developed with a community partner for mothers of infants: protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2023 Mar 9;9(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01260-y.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

DepressionAnxiety DisordersPsychological Well-Being

Interventions

Mental Health

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral SymptomsBehaviorMental DisordersPersonal Satisfaction

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

HealthPopulation Characteristics

Study Officials

  • Leslie E Roos, PhD

    University of Manitoba

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, PhD

    University of Calgary

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: This pilot Randomized Controlled Trial will involve two arms. Participants randomized to the BEAM program or the standard of care, MoodMission. The experimental arm will include 40 mothers in the BEAM program while the standard of care will include 40 mothers. Randomization will be stratified based on the telehealth group timeslots mothers are available for.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 26, 2022

First Posted

May 31, 2022

Study Start

January 28, 2022

Primary Completion

July 30, 2022

Study Completion

December 30, 2022

Last Updated

March 22, 2023

Record last verified: 2022-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

De-identified data (e.g. standardized questionnaire responses, aggregated program use data, sociodemographics linked to an identifier number) may be made available on public data platforms such as open science framework or a requirement by a granting agency or journal.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL
Time Frame
Data is expected to be available in early 2024.

Locations