Iowa Depression and Clinical Research Center
Current
Research Projects
Click on one of the links below to read more about our current research projects.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Postpartum
Depression
Transcultural Study of Postpartum Depression
Rapid Interpersonal Psychotherapy for
Depression
Clinician Managed Interpersonal Psychotherapy
for Postpartum Depression
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression
This is a large multifaceted longitudinal investigation of the emotional well-being of women and their children, which has been funded by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The main initial focus of this study was the efficacy of Interpersonal Therapy in the treatment of postpartum depression. The results of that focus of the study has been published in the November 2000 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 57. Additionally, our research group was interested in the ways in which postpartum depression impacted the mother-child relationship and overall child development.
Mothers and their children were enrolled in the study when the children were between 4- to 7-months-old. We observed them in their homes twice when the children were infants and then again when the children were 3-years-old. In addition, every 3-6 months, mothers (and some fathers) have provided information about themselves and their children.
In another part of this study, women who experienced a postpartum depression, but did not participate in the middle (or treatment) phase of the project, are being followed to help answer questions about the course of depression in women who may not have received treatment for their postpartum depression. Child outcomes are of interest in this part of the study as well. Women in this phase of the study were initially interviewed between 4-7 months postpartum and were found to be having difficulties with depression. We contacted a significant number of these women when the child was 3 ½ years old and assessed the course of their symptoms, treatments contacts, and how things had been going for them since the initial interview.
Future plans include continued follow-up of all women and children who have been participating in the study as the children reach the preschool and elementary school years around ages 5 ½ and 7 years.
For more information about this project, please contact Michael O'Hara, Ph.D., Research Director.
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Emotional Experiences of Women During Pregnancy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Antenatal Depression Study
The Emotional Experiences of Women During Pregnancy study is the screening phase of a two-part study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. In the screening phase of this study, our research group is interested in learning more about the types of feelings and emotions that women experience during pregnancy. Six maternal health care centers in eastern Iowa and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics OB-GYN clinic in Iowa City serve as screening sites for the Emotional Experiences study. English speaking women over 18, who are between 6 & 26 weeks of pregnancy, are asked to complete questionnaires regarding their background & mood during pregnancy. Depending on their score on the mood questionnaire, some women are invited to participate in an interview process which asks about current or past emotional problems.
After the interview process, women who qualify are invited to participate in the treatment phase of the study, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Antenatal Depression. The objective of this phase of study is to examine the efficacy of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) as a treatment for depression during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time when the use of most medication, including antidepressant medication, is contraindicated. Although some medications can be taken during pregnancy, there are no adequate and well-controlled research studies examining the use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy. Further, most women prefer to avoid all medications during pregnancy, if possible. Interpersonal Psychotherapy addresses the interpersonal problems associated with antenatal depression and helps women manage the inevitable role transitions and interpersonal challenges which accompany every pregnancy.
Women who agree to participate in the treatment study are randomized into one of two treatment groups: (1) 12 sessions of IPT in 12 weeks or (2) Treatment as Usual for 12 weeks. Eight licensed, Ph.D. clinical psychologists and one licensed social worker, all of whom are trained in IPT, serve as treatment therapists for the women who are randomized into the IPT group. Maternal health care providers for the women in the treatment as usual group are notified that the research participant has been identified as depressed and are provided with a copy of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynocology's bulletin discussing depression in women. All women participating in the treatment phase of the study complete interviews and questionnaires at 7 points during this phase of the study. In addition, the women in the treatment as usual group are asked about mental health treatment contacts which they may have had during the first 12 weeks in the IPT phase of the study. The overall objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy versus Treatment as Usual in treating antenatal depression and preventing postpartum depression.
For more information about this project, please contact Scott Stuart, M.D., Research Director.
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Transcultural Study of Postpartum Depression
As the name implies, this is a large multicultural investigation of depression in the postpartum period. The first phase of the study used focus groups and interviews to examine the real life experiences of pregnant and postpartum women from different cultures. The second phase of the study involves looking at psychosocial risk factors and support as predictors of postpartum depression in different cultures. The final phase of this study will examine differences among health care systems throughout the world and their impact on outcomes for women with postpartum depression. Another component of the final phase of the study will cover health care utilization of women with postpartum depression.
For more information about this project, please contact Michael O'Hara, Ph.D., Research Director.
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Rapid Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression
The primary purpose of this study is to compare the rate of response to different scheduling protocols of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). All participants would receive 12 weeks of IPT; half of the group would receive one session each week, while the other half would receive 6 session in the first two weeks, followed by one session every other week for the remaining 10 weeks. Men and women eligible for this study must be experiencing a depressive episode, in addition to other study criteria.
For more information about this project, please contact Michael O'Hara, Ph.D., Research Director.
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Clinician Managed Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression
The primary purpose of this investigation is to determine the effectiveness of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for postpartum depression in a more typical outpatient setting. In our past research, treatment was given using a strict 12 sessions in 12 weeks protocol. In contrast, outpatient therapy is scheduled based on the needs of the patient and her response to treatment. In this study, half of the patients will follow the 12-session/12-week protocol and half will follow a schedule of sessions that are determined by the clinician over a one year period. Women eligible for this study must be less than 7 months postpartum.
For more information about this project, please contact Scott Stuart, M.D., Research Director.
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