Swiss TrAumatic biRth Trial

Improving Mental Health and Physiological Stress Responses in Mothers Following Traumatic Childbirth and in Their Infants: a Randomised Controlled Trial (START)

This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effects of a brief computerized intervention (the computer game "Tetris") on intrusive memories and other posttraumatic stress symptoms following an emergency cesarean section (ECS). Women who have undergone an emergency cesarian section will be randomly allocated to either the brief computerized intervention plus usual care or an attention placebo control group plus usual care within the first 6 hours following the ECS. Women and their infants will be followed up at ≤ 1 week postpartum, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. It is predicted that women given the brief computerized intervention will develop fewer intrusive memories and less posttraumatic stress symptoms than those who are not. This will inform the development of a simple computerized early intervention to prevent distressing psychological symptoms after a traumatic event, such as an ECS.

Inclusion Criteria:

Women:

• had an ECS at ≥ 34 weeks gestation
• gave birth to a live baby
• answered with a score of ≥ 2 separately for at least two out of four screening questions regarding perceived threat
• gave written consent

Partners:

• if the woman agrees to participate
• was present at the childbirth
• gave written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Women:

• don't speak French sufficiently well to participate in assessments
• have an established intellectual disability or psychotic illness
• severe illness of mother or infant (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular disease, severe neurodevelopmental difficulties, malformations)
• infant requires intensive care
• alcohol abuse and/or illegal drug use during pregnancy

Partner:

- don't speak French sufficiently well to participate in assessments