Preventing Postpartum Depression in African American Home Visiting Clients

The goal of this study is to determine whether a 6 week intervention is effective in preventing the worsening of depressive symptoms and development of clinical depression in low-income African American pregnant and recently delivered women who are enrolled in home visiting programs.

This study will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with women from four Baltimore City home visiting programs. We will screen 200 women who are pregnant or have a child < 6 months for study inclusion; 91 women at elevated risk for developing postpartum depression (PPD) will be randomized to an intervention (MB Course) or usual home visiting control group. Women in the intervention group will receive the 6-week MB Course delivered in a group setting by the Study Clinician with reinforcing messages provided by home visitors during 1-on-1 home visits, while women in the attention control will receive usual home visiting services and information on postpartum depression. Primary outcomes include depressive symptoms and depressive episodes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• pregnant or has child < 6 months of age
• enrolled in home visiting program
• exhibiting elevated depressive symptoms and/or personal history of clinical depression

Exclusion Criteria:

• no current clinical depression at time of enrollment