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AnxietypostnataIiCBTNCT06778096

Transdiagnostic Internet Cognitive-behavior Therapy for Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Postnatal Women

A study testing Postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogram in people with Anxiety and Postnatal Depression, run by Université de Sherbrooke at 4 sites in Canada.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This research project aims to examine the acceptability and efficacy of a French-Canadian adaptation of a postnatal anxiety and depression program. The main question it aims to answer is: [1] When the adapted postnatal Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is added to treatment as usual (TAU) in… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
Conditions the study is for
Anxiety, Postnatal Depression
What is being tested?
Postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogram
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
226 participants
Where
4 sitesCanada
Study dates
May 2025to Jul 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18 years and older
  • Being within 12 months postpartum
  • Fluent in spoken and written French
  • Self-reported clinical score ≥10 for anxiety and/or depressive symptoms based on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 10-item scale (EPDS)
  • Access to a computer/tablet and internet connection
  • Agreement to share primary provider contact information

Who cannot join

  • Self-reported diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
  • Current substance abuse or dependence
  • Current use of benzodiazepines
  • Beginning psychological therapy (< 4 weeks ago) or medication (< 8 weeks ago) for depression/anxiety
  • Severe depression (EPDS score ≥ 23) or active suicidal intentions (EPDS question 10 = 3, yes quite often)

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Canada4 sites, 4 recruiting
  • Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest

    Châteauguay, Quebec

    Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, PhD, 450 466-5000 ext. 3701, Helen-Maria.Vasiliadis@USherbrooke.ca

    Alexandra Chapdelaine, PhD, 819-821-8000 ext. 74288, Alexandra.Chapdelaine@USherbrooke.ca

    Recruiting
  • Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Est

    Greenfield Park, Quebec

    Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, PhD, 450 466-5000 ext. 3701, Helen-Maria.Vasiliadis@USherbrooke.ca

    Alexandra Chapdelaine, PhD, 819-821-8000 ext. 74288, Alexandra.Chapdelaine@USherbrooke.ca

    Recruiting
  • Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre

    Longueuil, Quebec, J4V 2H2

    Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, PhD, 450 466-5000 ext. 3701, Helen-Maria.Vasiliadis@USherbrooke.ca

    Alexandra Chapdelaine, PhD, 819-821-8000 ext. 74288, Alexandra.Chapdelaine@USherbrooke.ca

    Recruiting
  • Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie - Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke

    Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H5H3

    Pasquale Roberge, PhD, 819-821-8000 ext. 73814, Pasquale.Roberge@USherbrooke.ca

    Alexandra Chapdelaine, PhD, 819-821-8000 ext. 74288, Alexandra.Chapdelaine@USherbrooke.ca

    Recruiting

Other trials in Canada

About this study

This research project aims to examine the acceptability and efficacy of a French-Canadian adaptation of a postnatal anxiety and depression program. The main question it aims to answer is:

[1] When the adapted postnatal Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is added to treatment as usual (TAU) in community-based care for women with anxiety and depressive symptoms, is the iCBT+TAU condition more effective to reduce symptoms than TAU alone?

Read more

Participants will:

postnatal iCBT group -> Answer questionnaires before, after (week 6) and 4 weeks after the intervention (week 10); do the 6-week non-guided iCBT program for anxiety and depressive symptoms during the postnatal period.

Waitlist, TAU group -> Answer questionnaires at enrolment, at week 6 and week 10. Participants will have access to the intervention after they complete their last questionnaires.

Read the detailed description

Background. Nearly 20% of women will be confronted with anxiety or depressive disorders during the perinatal period and this may lead to adverse outcomes for both mother and child. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the psychological intervention with the most empirical support for the clinical management of anxiety and depressive disorders. Depression and anxiety frequently occur in women during the perinatal period, and there is growing evidence that internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) could be an acceptable and effective intervention. ThisWayUp iCBT Virtual Clinic in Australia has developed a program for postnatal anxiety and depression. As part of a Québec-Ontario collaboration, this research protocol aims to examine the acceptability and efficacy of a French-Canadian adaptation of the postnatal anxiety and depression program. Methods/Design. The investigators propose to conduct a hybrid type 1 randomized clinical trial and implementation study to replicate the findings of the trial conducted in Australia as well as explore barriers and facilitators to potential large-scale implementation. Treatment and control groups. a) adapted postnatal depression and anxiety iCBT program (3 lessons to complete in six weeks) added to treatment-as-usual (TAU); b) TAU. Participants will include women with possible postnatal depression or anxiety as per the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) or the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The primary outcome measures will be the GAD-7 and the EPDS. Secondary outcome measures will comprise self-reported instruments to evaluate mother-child experience, postnatal depression, psychological distress, suicidality risk, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and service utilization. Statistical analysis. Statistical analysis will follow intent-to-treat principles. A mixed model regression approach will be used to account for between- and within-subject variations in the analysis of the longitudinal effects of iCBT compared to TAU intervention. Moderation analyses will be performed for three sets of moderators: clinical characteristics, previous treatments and sociodemographic characteristics. Additionally, treatment effect sizes will be calculated with Cohen's d. Discussion. The study will deliver important data of efficacy and acceptability to patients, clinicians, and decision-makers to inform the scaling-up of the postnatal iCBT intervention. The benefits to patients could include timely access to services, improved remission rates and health-related quality of life, better long-term outcomes; and to the healthcare system, policy and decision-makers: improved efficiency, optimization of resources, and this to meet the perinatal women and child needs equitably.

Being tested
Postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogram
Keywords
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internet, Non-guided, Transdiagnostic, Randomized clinical trial, Anxiety, Depression, Postnatal
Medical subject headings
Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Postpartum, Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogramBehavioural

    Also called Postnatal iCBT

    The overarching goal of this stand-alone program is to introduce women to CBT skills to help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, such as psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring and problem solving, behavioural activation, graded exposure and relapse prevention. Each lesson is accompanied by practical homework and resources (e.g., medication during breastfeeding, attachment and bonding, information for entourage, sleep, self-care, intrusive thought, problem solving), and is built to be easily generalizable to a broad range of women. The three lessons must be completed within a 6-week period, with up to two weeks to complete each lesson. Participants will be notified of new lessons available via email and text message reminders. There is a 5-day lockout between lessons stopping the participants to complete the next session once a session is completed to ensure that the sessions are completed over multiple weeks to allow for revision and practice.

Study groups in NCT06778096
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
The postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogram + TAUExperimentalWomen will have access to the postnatal iCBT program (self-directed) and will have to complete the program over six weeks. They still can have contacts with the healthcare system.
Receives: Behavioral: Postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogram
Treatment-as-usualNo interventionNo restrictions will be imposed regarding usual care. To reflect heterogeneity of health seeking behaviour and mental health practices for anxiety and depressive symptoms in the community during the postpartum period, participants will not be constrained to a prespecified usual care treatment for external validity or have contacts with the healthcare system. Data will be collected on throughout the trial. This group will have a delayed access to the program after they complete their four-week follow-up questionnaire.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (French)

    Used to evaluate postpartum depression. 10 items, 0 to 3 Likert scale, retrospective on the past 7 days. The score varies between 0 and 30, with a higher score indicating more severe symptoms.

    Measured: Week 0, Week 6, Week 10

  2. Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (French)

    Used to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms. 7 items, 0 to 3 Likert scale, retrospective on the past 14 days. The score varies between 0 and 21, with a higher score indicating more severe symptoms.

    Measured: Week 0, Week 6, Week 10

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale - 10 items (French)

    Used to evaluate psychological distress. 10 items, 1 to 5 Likert scale, retrospective on the past 14 days. The score varies between 10 and 50, with a higher score indicating more psychological distress.

    Measured: Week 0, before each program lesson (intervention group) Week 6, Week 10

  2. Assessment of Quality of Life - 6 dimensions (French)

    20-item self-administered health-related quality of life tool, retrospective over the past week, to be rated on Likert scales with varying number of levels. It assesses six dimensions: independent living, mental health, coping, relationships, pain, senses. Response options for each item range from 4-6 levels. Scores on each domain and a total score can be derived. Standardized scores range from 0 to 100 where higher scores indicate less quality of life impairment.

    Measured: Week 0, week 6 and week 10

  3. Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (French)

    19-item self-report questionnaire to assess the affective aspect of mother-infant bonding over the past 2 weeks. It is based on three subscales: absence of hostility, pleasure in interaction and quality of attachment. The score varies between 19 and 95; lower scores indicate more problematic responses.

    Measured: Week 0, Week 6 and Week 10

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Jan 2025
  2. Study startMay 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionJul 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
The study design is a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study. The clinical trial is a two-arm parallel group multicentre pragmatic superiority RCT, with allocation at the level of the individual. This study is an adaptation that will follow the original postnatal anxiety and depression iCBT program clinical trial (Loughnan et al., 2019). The proposed trial is congruent with CONSORT recommendations for RCTs and nonpharmacological treatments. The postnatal iCBT program will be offered to participants in the TAU condition at the end of the four-week follow-up (delayed-intervention).
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
226 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06778096
Sponsor's protocol ID
MP-31-2024-5238
Acronym
postnataIiCBT
Status last verified
May 2025
First submitted
23 Dec 2024
Last updated
13 May 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: The datasets generated during the current study will not be publicly available due to ethics committee regulations, but will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Publications

  • Loughnan SA, Butler C, Sie AA, Grierson AB, Chen AZ, Hobbs MJ, Joubert AE, Haskelberg H, Mahoney A, Holt C, Gemmill AW, Milgrom J, Austin MP, Andrews G, Newby JM. A randomised controlled trial of 'MUMentum postnatal': Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression in postpartum women. Behav Res Ther. 2019 May;116:94-103. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.03.001. Epub 2019 Mar 8. No abstract available.

    PubMed 30877878
  • Roberge P, Vasiliadis HM, Chapdelaine A, Battista MC, Beaulieu MC, Chomienne MH, Cumyn A, Drapeau M, Durand C, Girard A, Gosselin D, Grenier J, Hardy I, Hudon C, Koszycki D, Labelle R, Lesage A, Lussier MT, Mahoney A, Provencher MD, Shiner CT. Transdiagnostic internet cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depressive symptoms in postnatal women: protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Mar 13;25(1):237. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06636-3.

    PubMed 40075340

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Postnatal anxiety and depression iCBTprogram in people with Anxiety and Postnatal Depression, run by Université de Sherbrooke at 4 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Pasquale Roberge, PhD (819 821-8000 ext. 73814, Pasquale.Roberge@USherbrooke.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (French) (time frame: Week 0, Week 6, Week 10). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06778096, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 May 2025.

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