Efficacy of Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Perinatal Anxiety

A Pilot Study Examining the Efficacy of Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Perinatal Anxiety

This protocol will test the hypothesis that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms during the perinatal and postpartum periods. Participants should expect their participation in the study to last 9-12 months.

The study's major theme is "to examine the efficacy of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in treating perinatal anxiety symptoms, as compared to a supportive control condition."

The perinatal and postpartum periods are known to be a vulnerable time for the development of mental health symptomatology, with approximately 7% of women developing postpartum depression in the first three months following childbirth. One known predictor of postpartum depression is perinatal anxiety and distress. The impact of postpartum depression extends beyond the mother, whose distress and daily functioning are affected, with adverse effects on infant development and care. The need for interventions and preventive interventions has been widely indicated for over two decades.

This protocol will describe two conditions, the effects of which will be contrasted to determine the efficacy of ACT in treating anxiety and depressive symptoms among perinatal women. The ACT condition will be compared to a supportive psychoeducation intervention. The effects of the intervention will be determined in terms of self-report measures (anxiety and depressive symptoms, flexibility, mindfulness, social satisfaction) and diagnostic interviews (depression, anxiety). The impact of trauma history and psychodiagnostic history will be examined as moderating factors and/or covariates in the examination of the intervention's efficacy.

This protocol will test the hypothesis that ACT is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms during the perinatal and postpartum periods. Second, the investigators will examine the intergenerational impact of the intervention on the offspring via offspring birth outcomes, as reported in the electronic medical record. Finally, the investigators will explore mediators and moderators of the treatment outcomes. This work will advance the understanding of the impact of brief interventions on perinatal well-being and improve the ability to disseminate empirically supported interventions for pregnant mothers.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult women (ages 18-45) who are between 18-26 weeks pregnant
2. Fluency in English
3. Ability to give informed consent and comply with study procedures (including phone and internet access)
4. Elevated GAD-7 score (10+)
5. Women must be receiving prenatal care
6. Singleton pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prisoners
2. Inability to give informed consent and comply with study procedures
3. Past/current mania, past/current psychoses (assessed with Psychosis Screening Questionnaire)
4. No therapy appointments in last 60 days (not currently in psychotherapy).