Predictive Value of Early Peritraumatic Distress Screening for Childbirth-PTSD Following Unplanned Cesarean Delivery

NCT07561632 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: H25-03700
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 420
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether early postpartum screening tools can predict the development of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms in individuals who undergo unplanned cesarean delivery. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Do scores on the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) collected 24-48 hours after delivery predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum?
• Do scores on the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF) collected 24-48 hours after delivery predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum? Participants will:
• Complete questionnaires within 24-48 hours after delivery, including the PDI, CityBiTS-SF, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
• Complete follow-up questionnaires at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum, including measures of PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, PCL-5) and depressive symptoms. Researchers will evaluate whether early screening scores are associated with later symptoms of childbirth-related PTSD and postpartum depression, and will assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing routine inpatient screening for psychological birth trauma.

Conditions

Post Partum Depression; Acute Stress Symptoms; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Childbirth Related PTSD; Psychological birth trauma; Peritraumatic Distress Inventory; City Birth Trauma Scale

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Sensitivity of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI ≥15) for Predicting Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms at 6 Weeks Postpartum

  Sensitivity of a Peritraumatic Distress Inventory score ≥15 obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for predicting childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum, defined as a PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33.

  6 weeks postpartum

• Sensitivity of the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF ≥4) for Predicting Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms at 6 Weeks Postpartum

  Sensitivity of a City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form score ≥4 obtained 24-48 hours postpartum for predicting childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum, defined as a PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33.

  6 weeks postpartum

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Diagnostic Accuracy of Early Postpartum Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) Screening for Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms

  6 weeks & 3 Months Postpartum

• Diagnostic Accuracy of Early Postpartum City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF) Screening for Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms

  6 weeks & 3 Months Postpartum

• Association Between Early Peritraumatic Distress Inventory Scores and Postpartum Depression Symptoms

  6 weeks & 3 Months Postpartum

• Feasibility of Inpatient Postpartum Psychological Screening

  24-48 hours postpartum

• Participant Acceptability of Postpartum Psychological Screening

  24-48 hours postpartum

Study Arms (1)

Unplanned Cesarean Delivery Cohort

Postpartum individuals aged 19 years or older who undergo an unplanned cesarean delivery at BC Women's Hospital \& Health Centre and consent to participate in the study.

Other: Postpartum Psychological Screening

Interventions

Postpartum Psychological Screening OTHER

Participants complete validated screening questionnaires 24-48 hours postpartum, including the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory, City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Follow-up surveys at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum include the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, EPDS, and City Birth Trauma Scale - Long Form

Unplanned Cesarean Delivery Cohort

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of postpartum individuals who undergo an unplanned cesarean delivery at BC Women's Hospital \& Health Centre, a tertiary maternity care center in Vancouver, Canada.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥19 years
• Underwent unplanned cesarean delivery
• Able to provide informed consent
• Able to read and understand English questionnaires

You may not qualify if:

• Fetal or neonatal demise
• Unable to complete study questionnaires or provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead
• Women's Health Research Institute of British Columbia: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3N1, Canada

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Dopfer R, Niethammer D. Report on the international workshop of the Kind Philipp Foundation on late effects after bone marrow transplantation in childhood malignancies. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1993 Jan-Mar;10(1):63-84. doi: 10.3109/08880019309016530.

  PMID: 8443054 BACKGROUND

• Dekel S, Papadakis JE, Quagliarini B, Pham CT, Pacheco-Barrios K, Hughes F, Jagodnik KM, Nandru R. Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Jun;230(6):610-641.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.12.013. Epub 2023 Dec 18.

  PMID: 38122842 BACKGROUND

• Horsch A, Garthus-Niegel S, Ayers S, Chandra P, Hartmann K, Vaisbuch E, Lalor J. Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder: definition, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Mar;230(3S):S1116-S1127. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.09.089. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

  PMID: 38233316 BACKGROUND

• Ayers S, Horsch A, Garthus-Niegel S, Nieuwenhuijze M, Bogaerts A, Hartmann K, Karlsdottir SI, Oosterman M, Tecirli G, Turner JD, Lalor J; COST Action CA18211. Traumatic birth and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder: International expert consensus recommendations for practice, policy, and research. Women Birth. 2024 Mar;37(2):362-367. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.11.006. Epub 2023 Dec 8.

  PMID: 38071102 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Depression, Postpartum

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Katherine Seligman, MD

CONTACT

604-875-2158; katie.seligman@cw.bc.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Katherine M. Seligman MD FRCPC D.ABA

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2026
• First Posted: May 1, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2028
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)