Preventing Childbirth-Related PTSD With Expressive Writing
The Effects of Expressive Writing Following Traumatic Childbirth
Massachusetts General Hospital
136 participants
Nov 8, 2023
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
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.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- Women who recently delivered at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
- Women who are at risk for developing CB-PTSD based on their scoring of \>16 on the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI).
Exclusion Criteria11
- Age \<18 or \>50.
- Stillbirth.
- Down's Syndrome, other serious genetic disorder in the newborn, or serious birth defect (e.g., microcephaly, spina bifida).
- Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for more than 1 week or infant that is not medically healthy.
- Current diagnosable DSM-5 psychotic or bipolar disorder, or current substance abuse disorder.
- Active suicidality (assessed case by case).
- Present substance abuse as indicated in medical records.
- Severe maternal morbidity (assessed case by case).
- General anesthesia.
- Inability to understand the study procedures, risks, and side effects, or to otherwise give informed consent for participation due to neurological or other reasons.
- Inability to understand English.
Interventions
Participants will write repeatedly about their deepest emotions and thoughts related to their recent childbirth, focusing on the most stressful experiences.
Participants will write repeatedly about neutral daily events/tasks not related to childbirth.
Locations(1)
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NCT05662423