MoodUP in Improving Psychological Outcomes Among Perinatal Women

Anxiety Clinical Trial

Official title:

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MoodUP) in Improving Psychological Outcomes Among Perinatal Women: A Prospective Randomised Double-blind Parallel-group Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03970057
• Other study ID #: NUHSRO/2017/054/T1
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 1, 2021
• Est. completion date: December 2023

Study information

• Verified date: August 2023
• Source: National University of Singapore
• Contact: Ying Lau, PhD
• Phone: (852)59180547
• Email: yinglau[@]cuhk.edu.hk
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Dramatic physiological, psychological, and social changes during the antenatal period may significantly affect a woman's psychosocial and physical conditions, thereby resulting in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a well-established effective psychotherapy to modify thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions, as well as change the behavioral patterns under numerous conditions. However, at-risk women that need access to CBT are challenged by many issues, such as insufficient therapists, stigmatization, long waiting times, and high costs. Preventive strategies may offer a more acceptable means of addressing the problem. Internet-based CBT can help overcome some barriers to improve psychological well-being by providing a timely and efficacious intervention that is customizable, cost-effective, and flexible in terms of time and geography.

Hypotheses Compared with the control group,

1. Women who completed an internet-based CBT (MoodUP) will have significantly lower scores for stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms immediately post-intervention and at 12 weeks post-intervention;

2. Women who completed MoodUP will reduce the frequency of negative automatic thoughts, achieve a better sleep quality, life satisfaction, and mental health immediately post-intervention and at 12 weeks post-intervention;

3. Women who completed MoodUP will have better client satisfaction.

Approach A two-stage research design will be used for 3 years. Stage I will consist of the development and validation of MoodUP based on theoretical and empirical rationales. The development of MoodUP will be guided by a combination of the basic principles from behavioral and cognitive psychology. Essential components, teaching strategies, and technical elements of MoodUP will be established according to literature review and a meta-analysis by the principal investigator and her team. Ethical and quality standards will be assessed using the Health on the Net code of conduct and the Health-Related Website Evaluation Form, respectively.

Stage II will be used to evaluate the efficacy of MoodUP among 143 antenatal women using a randomized controlled trial, two-armed parallel group pretest, and repeated post-test following the Consolidated Standards of Report Trials guidelines for an internet-based intervention. Primary outcomes will be the presence and severity of antenatal stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms using the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Secondary outcomes will be automatic thoughts, sleep disturbance, life satisfaction, mental well-being, and client satisfaction, as determined by the 30-item Automatic Thoughts Questionnaires, four-item Sleep Disturbance subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, the five-item Satisfaction with Life Scale, the WHO five-item Well-Being Index, and the seven-item Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, respectively. Multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures will be used to compare the mean difference of scores in the three-time points through Wilks's lambda test. The data will be analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle with baseline values imputed for missing follow-up data.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 364
• Est. completion date: December 2023
• Est. primary completion date: December 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 21 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• < 18 weeks of gestation (the upper limit of < 18 weeks allows time to complete six sessions and follow-up questionnaires prior to delivery)

• 21 years of age or older

• ability to speak and read English

• plan to deliver baby in Singapore

• can access the internet.

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe psychiatric illness

• severe medical complications

• severe obstetric complications

• fetal abnormality.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anxiety
• Dyssomnias
• Parasomnias
• Perinatal Depression
• Pregnancy Related
• Prenatal Stress
• Sleep Disturbance

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
MoodUP is an iCBT intervention that is tailored to perinatal women. The core content is presented via different types of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktops, connected to the internet. The program is designed as an integration of online sessions, self-monitoring, homework, peer support, and therapist support. MoodUP consists of six online sessions focused on CBT skills for improving stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among at-risk antenatal women; each session takes between 30 and 40 minutes to complete. The content of the sessions will be as follows: Session 1: Managing mood, Session 2: Psychoeducation, Session 3: Cognitive restructuring, Session 4: Behavioural activation, Session5: Lifestyle modification, Session 6: Problem-solving.

Other:
• Usual Care
Participants will receive a series of six, weekly online sessions comprising general antenatal education. The content of the sessions will be as follows: Session 1: Parenthood; Session 2: Diet; Session 3: Exercise; Session 4: Breastfeeding; Session 5: Rest and sleep and Session 6: Common pregnancy problems.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Singapore	Cherry	Singapore

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National University of Singapore	Ministry of Education, Singapore

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Singapore, 

References & Publications (15)

Agius A, Xuereb RB, Carrick-Sen D, Sultana R, Rankin J. The co-existence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the perinatal period: A systematic review. Midwifery. 2016 May;36:70-9. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2016.02.013. Epub 2016 Mar 4. — View Citation

Bech, P. (2012). Clinical Psychometrics. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Beck AT, Haigh EA. Advances in cognitive theory and therapy: the generic cognitive model. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2014;10:1-24. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153734. Epub 2014 Jan 2. — View Citation

Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S. The Satisfaction With Life Scale. J Pers Assess. 1985 Feb;49(1):71-5. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13. — View Citation

Ebert DD, Lehr D, Boss L, Riper H, Cuijpers P, Andersson G, Thiart H, Heber E, Berking M. Efficacy of an internet-based problem-solving training for teachers: results of a randomized controlled trial. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014 Nov;40(6):582-96. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3449. Epub 2014 Aug 13. — View Citation

Eysenbach G. CONSORT-EHEALTH: implementation of a checklist for authors and editors to improve reporting of web-based and mobile randomized controlled trials. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2013;192:657-61. — View Citation

Faulconbridge LF, Wadden TA, Thomas JG, Jones-Corneille LR, Sarwer DB, Fabricatore AN. Changes in depression and quality of life in obese individuals with binge eating disorder: bariatric surgery versus lifestyle modification. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2013 Sep-Oct;9(5):790-6. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2012.10.010. Epub 2012 Nov 14. — View Citation

Hays RD, Martin SA, Sesti AM, Spritzer KL. Psychometric properties of the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep measure. Sleep Med. 2005 Jan;6(1):41-4. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2004.07.006. Epub 2004 Nov 11. — View Citation

Hollon, S. D., & Kendall, P. C. (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4(4), 383-395. doi:10.1007/BF01178214

Hope DA, Burns JA, Hayes SA, Herbert JD, Warner MD. Automatic Thoughts and Cognitive Restructuring in Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 2010;34(1):1-12.

Lau Y, Htun TP, Wong SN, Tam WSW, Klainin-Yobas P. Therapist-Supported Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Stress, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Among Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2017 Apr 28;19(4):e138. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6712. — View Citation

Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (Second ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation of Australia.

Olthuis JV, Watt MC, Bailey K, Hayden JA, Stewart SH. Therapist-supported Internet cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Mar 5;(3):CD011565. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011565. — View Citation

Webb TL, Joseph J, Yardley L, Michie S. Using the internet to promote health behavior change: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy. J Med Internet Res. 2010 Feb 17;12(1):e4. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1376. — View Citation

World Health Organization. (1998). Regional Office for Europe: Wellbeing Measures in Primary Health Care: the Depcare Project. Paper presented at the Report on a WHO Meeting.

* Note: There are 15 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Antenatal Stress	The DASS-21 is used to rate the frequency and severity of experiencing negative emotions over the previous week (P. F. Lovibond & S. H. Lovibond, 1995).; Each of the three DASS-21 scales contains 7 item, divided into sub-scales of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms (S. H. Lovibond & P. F. Lovibond, 1995).; Frequency/severity ratings are made on a series of four-point scales from 0 (did not apply to me at all) to 3 (applied to me very much or most of the time).; Scores of each sub-scales will be multiplied by 2 to calculate the final score. The total score ranges of each sub-scales from 0 to 42, and a high score on each sub-scale indicates more stress, anxiety and depression.	2 years
Primary	Antenatal Anxiety	The DASS-21 is used to rate the frequency and severity of experiencing negative emotions over the previous week (P. F. Lovibond & S. H. Lovibond, 1995).; Each of the three DASS-21 scales contains 7 item, divided into sub-scales of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms (S. H. Lovibond & P. F. Lovibond, 1995).; Frequency/severity ratings are made on a series of four-point scales from 0 (did not apply to me at all) to 3 (applied to me very much or most of the time).; Scores of each sub-scales will be multiplied by 2 to calculate the final score. The total score ranges of each sub-scales from 0 to 42, and a high score on each sub-scale indicates more stress, anxiety and depression.	2 years
Primary	Antenatal Depressive Symptoms	The DASS-21 is used to rate the frequency and severity of experiencing negative emotions over the previous week (P. F. Lovibond & S. H. Lovibond, 1995).; Each of the three DASS-21 scales contains 7 item, divided into sub-scales of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms (S. H. Lovibond & P. F. Lovibond, 1995).; Frequency/severity ratings are made on a series of four-point scales from 0 (did not apply to me at all) to 3 (applied to me very much or most of the time).; Scores of each sub-scales will be multiplied by 2 to calculate the final score. The total score ranges of each sub-scales from 0 to 42, and a high score on each sub-scale indicates more stress, anxiety and depression.	2 years
Secondary	30-item Automatic Thoughts	Measured through Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. The Automatic Thought Questionnaire (ATQ) is used to measure the occurrence of negative thoughts and related cognitive processes (Hollon & Kendall, 1980).; It consisted of 30 statements reflecting negative cognition (Hollon & Kendall, 1980). Respondents are asked to rate the frequency at which each self-statement or a similar self-statement occurred over the course of the past week.; The responses are provided on a 5-point scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (all the time) in order to determine the severity of symptoms. The total score ranges from 30 to 150. A high scores represents more frequent negative thoughts and cognition (Hollon & Kendall, 1980).	2 years
Secondary	5-item Life satisfaction	Measured through The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985).; The five-item Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is used to assess life satisfaction of the women.; Women will rate each item on a seven-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The total score ranges from 5 to 35, and a high score on SWLS indicates high life satisfaction.	2 years
Secondary	Four-item Sleep Disturbance subscale	Measure through Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOSSS). The four-item sleep disturbance sub-scale of the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (Hays et al., 2005) is used to assess how well women sleep without tapping into other sleep-related medical conditions.; Three items related to sleep disturbance are rated on a six-point Likert scale, from 1 (less than 15 minutes) to 6 (none of the time), and one item related to the time needed to fall asleep is assessed on a five-point Likert scale, from 1 (less than 15 minutes) to 5 (more than 60 minutes). Scores are converted to an index that ranged from 0 to 100, with high scores indicating a high level of sleep disturbance.	2 years
Secondary	5-item Mental well-being	Measured through the WHO Well-Being Index (WHOWBI) (Bech, 2012; World Health Organization, 1998).; The WHO five-item Well-Being Index is used to measure overall mental well-being. Each item is rated on a six-point Likert scale from 0 (at no time) to 5 (all of the time). The total score ranges from 0 to 25, and a high score represents better well-being.	2 years
Secondary	7-item Client satisfaction	Measured through a self-developed questionnaire to evaluate the clients' satisfaction of website.; Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) is developed by our research team. Each item is rated on a four-point Likert scale from 1 to 4, and response options differed for the various items. The total score ranges from 7 to 28, and a high score represents better client satisfaction. In addition, we have four open questions to obtain suggestions for improvement.	2 years