Description
Postpartum depression is common for new mothers. New mothers experiencing poverty are disproportionately more likely to experience postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that occurs after childbirth and is known to affect the mental health and well-being of mothers and their children. Infants of mothers experiencing postpartum depression are at risk for development delays and emotional and behavioral disturbances. The number of women who receive treatment for depression is extremely low. Early intervention can shorten the course and severity of depression and co-occurring anxiety, trauma, and stress. By shortening the course and severity, health outcomes can be improved for mothers, infants, and families.
As the Core Research Project of the UWPRC for the 2019-2024 funding cycle, the Addressing Postpartum Depression in Wisconsin Home Visiting Programs project aims to reduce the risks associated with postpartum depression by incorporating the evidence-based Mother-Infant Therapy Group (M-ITG) intervention into federally-funded home visiting programs in urban, rural, and Tribal communities throughout Wisconsin. The M-ITG intervention involves mothers meeting for group therapy with a licensed mental health clinician while infants are in an infant development group with home visitors. Immediately following the groups, mothers and infants come together with a home visitor to support their interactions. The project is working with the UWPRC Community Advisory Board, UWPRC Translational Partners Panel, and home visiting programs across the state to modify and culturally adapt the M-ITG intervention for home visiting programs.
Specific Aims
Aim 1: Adapt the M-ITG intervention to maximize reach, adoption, implementation, and sustainability while maintaining effectiveness.
Aim 2: Evaluate the effectiveness of the adapted M-ITG intervention in improving depressive symptoms, improving quality of mother-infant relationships, and reducing delays and disturbances in the infants.
Aim 3: Evaluate the reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the adapted M-ITG intervention.
Aim 4: Identify and implement payment mechanisms for the adapted M-ITG intervention, and broadly disseminate and translate findings and products.
