EMA and mHealth in Preventing Postpartum Depression

Conditions studied

Postpartum Depression (PPD), Ecological Momentary Assessment, mHealth Intervention

About this study

This proposed study aims to develop and examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a proactive intervention model that combines brief psychological counselling, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), mHealth-based psychological support, and CBT-guided telephone counselling to prevent postpartum depression (PPD).

Interventions

• Behavioral: Brief psychological counselling and health education — This is a brief 1-on-1 psychological counselling, including potential mood fluctuation during pregnancy, possible prepartum depressive symptoms, and available psychiatric consultation and medication in Hong Kong with self-help psychoeducational materials.
• Behavioral: 2 Weeks of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) — The 2-week EMA period will start the next day. Participants will be prompted to answer questions about emotion (e.g. worry, enjoyment, anxiety, etc.) and other lifestyle and environmental triggers through the smartphone notification function. There will be a 2-hour window for each assessment before expiration and total 5 assessments a day.
• Behavioral: 10 weeks of mobile health psychological support — A total of 20 regular instant messages (e.g., via WhatsApp) personalised by baseline demographic characteristics (current pregnancy details, history of postpartum mental illness) and results of EMA will be sent to the participants in multi-media formats.
• Behavioral: CBT-guided telephone counselling booster — A 45-minute telephone counselling based on CBT.

Primary outcomes

• Postpartum depression (2-week postpartum)

Eligibility information

Study locations

• School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Pokfulam 999077 Hong Kong
• The Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Pokfulam 999077 Hong Kong