Smartphone Application to Support Mothers at Risk of Postpartum Depression

NCT07167654 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Yarmouk University
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 79
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application for Mothers at High Risk for Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial Abstract Aim: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a smartphone application in reducing symptoms of postpartum depression among Jordanian women. Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition affecting an estimated 14-27% of mothers and negatively impacting infant health. Social support and certain psychological therapies have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in postpartum women. Smartphone applications may provide a viable means of delivering psychological interventions to mothers experiencing such symptoms. Method: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted at two maternal and child health clinics in Irbid, Jordan. A total of 295 women will be invited to participate and will be asked to provide sociodemographic data and complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6-8 weeks (baseline) and again at 3 months postpartum. Women with a depressive symptom score of ≥13 (n ≈ 79) will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n ≈ 58) or the control group (n ≈ 57). The intervention will involve an Android smartphone application called Serene Motherhood, which will enable mothers to access evidence-based cognitive techniques and health information at any time.

Conditions

Postpartum Depression; Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Keywords

Smartphone Application; psychological interventions; E-Health; postpartum depression; RCT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The primary outcome is the symptoms of PPD measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

  The EPDS is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of ten items, with a total scoring range of 0 to 30 (Cox et al., 1987). Responses are rated on a 4-point scale (0, 1, 2, or 3) according to the severity of symptoms. Items 3, 5, and 10 are reverse-scored (i.e., 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is obtained by summing the scores for all ten items, after reversing the coding of negatively worded items, in accordance with the scoring guidelines to ensure consistency.

  12 weeks per participant (from baseline assessment at 6-8 weeks postpartum to follow-up at 3 months postpartum)

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention was an Android smartphone application called "Serene Motherhood," which enabled mothers to access evidence-based therapeutic cognitive techniques and health information at any time.

Other: Smartphone Application

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Control Group who received the routine care for postpartum mothers

Interventions

Smartphone Application OTHER

The Intervention: "Serene Motherhood" Application The "Serene Motherhood" application was a newly developed Android-based application created specifically for this study by the research team in collaboration with professional software developers. The content was adapted from authoritative guidelines provided by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organization, and the American Psychological Association (APA, 2023; Mota \& Bø, 2021; NICE, 2016; WHO, 2022). The application was developed using the research project budget and was provided free of charge to all participants. The app aimed to integrate emotional and behavioral strategies, social support, and education for women with symptoms of PPD. The application combines evidence-based therapeutic techniques with user-friendly features supporting daily engagement with the app and self-management. Content and activities were grounded

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: the only eligible self-identified gender is Female.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Jordanian women aged 18 to 45 years.
• Primigravida or multigravida
• Able to speak and read Arabic
• Between six and eight weeks postpartum
• EPDS score of ≥13
• Access to an Android-compatible smartphone

You may not qualify if:

• Complications during or after childbirth
• Newborn death or need for special/intensive care
• Positive response ("yes") to the suicidal ideation item on the EPDS (these participants will be referred to the Prince Basma Outpatient Clinics, Mental Health Department)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jordan University of Science and Technology: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ibn Sina and Hawara Healthcare center

Irbid, 566, Jordan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression, Postpartum

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Puerperal Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 30, 2025
• First Posted: September 11, 2025
• Study Start: October 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 15, 2025
• Study Completion: September 12, 2025
• Last Updated: September 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

JO (1)