NCT06578845

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate whether pregnant people at risk of, or currently suffering from antenatal depression, find it acceptable to use the 'HappyMums' mobile application during their pregnancy. This app will collect data relevant to their mental health passively and through active engagement from the user. After the study is complete, these data will be put together to determine if such data types could be used in future to help predict and identify antenatal depression, and aid better treatment decisions.

Trial Health

83
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
1,000

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
6mo left

Started Feb 2025

Geographic Reach
6 countries

7 active sites

Status
recruiting

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 Progress72%
Feb 2025Oct 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 28, 2024

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 29, 2024

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 18, 2025

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 30, 2026

Expected
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 31, 2026

Last Updated

December 9, 2025

Status Verified

November 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

1.4 years

First QC Date

May 28, 2024

Last Update Submit

December 2, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Proportion of participants who continue to use mobile application from enrolment until they give birth.

    The primary outcome is whether participants feel able to continue to use the app throughout their pregnancy. Usage data of the app will be logged to ascertain if participants continue to engage with it throughout their pregnancy. 'Usage' of the application will be defined as submission of any questionnaire, logging of data, or interaction with any other activities or content on the application. This will be quantified as proportion of participants who use the app weekly from their enrolment on the app to the end of their pregnancy.

    From enrolment to end of pregnancy.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Usability of the mobile application - System Usability Scale

    Administered once - to be completed from delivery to 2 months postpartum.

  • Acceptance of the mobile application - Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Scale.

    Administered once - to be completed from delivery to 2 months postpartum.

  • Severity of antenatal depression - Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

    Every 2 weeks from enrolment to end of pregnancy.

  • Development of clinically significant depression - Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview

    Administered at enrolment and up to 2 months postpartum

Study Arms (1)

Pregnant people currently experiencing, or at risk of, antenatal depression

All eligible participants will be given access to the 'HappyMums' mobile application, which will be used to collect data pertinent to their mental health status during pregnancy.

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

The study will consist of pregnant participants, up to 28 weeks' gestation, who have at least one risk factor for antenatal depression, or current depressive symptoms.

You may qualify if:

  • Pregnant people, aged 18 or older and up to 28 weeks' gestation.
  • Satisfactory understanding of English/national language of host country, in order to give fully informed consent.
  • Either suffering with depressive symptoms currently, or who have at least one risk factor for antenatal depression.
  • Owning a smartphone capable of downloading and running HappyMums application

You may not qualify if:

  • Inability to give informed consent.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (7)

Catholic University of Croatia

Zagreb, Croatia

RECRUITING

University of Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland

RECRUITING

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Berlin, Germany

RECRUITING

San Raffaele Hospital

Milan, Italy

RECRUITING

University of Milan

Milan, Italy

RECRUITING

SWPS University

Warsaw, Poland

RECRUITING

King's College London

London, UK, SE5 9RX, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Priestley K, Laijawala R, Hazelgrove K, Bind R, Rebecchini L, Mariani N, Alford S, Kirkpatrick M, Mancino F, Kim S, Pushpakanthan S, Biaggi A, Cavaliere L, Di Benedetto MG, Matijas M, Zutic M, Brekalo M, Nakic Rados S, Zukowska K, Braniecka A, Jackowska M, Bessi M, Agnoletto E, Melloni EMT, Benedetti F, Bulgheroni M, La Gamba M, Martin Isla C, Izquierdo Morcillo C, Lekadir K, Salo V, Seikku T, Raikkonen K, Godara M, Schneider-Schmid UM, Entringer S, Buss C, de Barra D, Woods A, Dazzan P, Cattaneo A, Pariante C. HappyMums mobile application study protocol: use of a smartphone application to gather data predictive of antenatal depression. BMJ Open. 2026 Feb 4;16(2):e106978. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106978.

Central Study Contacts

Anthony J Woods, PhD

CONTACT

Carmine M Pariante, MD, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
CASE ONLY
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 28, 2024

First Posted

August 29, 2024

Study Start

February 18, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 31, 2026

Last Updated

December 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations