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Parenting Skills Group for Mothers With Postpartum Depression

Effects of Attachment-Focused Parenting Intervention on Postpartum Depression and Biological Markers of Stress in Mothers and Their Infants

Who can join

Ages 18 to 50 · Women · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Mothers aged 18-50 years old with infants aged 3-14 months old
* Mothers who are experiencing symptoms of depression and mothers who are not experiencing symptoms of depression (non-depressed controls) are encouraged to participate.

(please note that mothers who are experiencing active depression and who are not already being treated under the care of a qualified healthcare provider (i.e. through therapy or psychopharmacological intervention) will be referred for such treatment prior to being enrolled in the study. This study is not a replacement for professional management of depression or other mental health symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Mothers with severe psychopathology (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, among others)
* Infants with major medical problems that may interfere with a mother's ability to participate in and benefit from the intervention

About the study

The goal of this longitudinal study is to study the effects of a parenting skills group (Circle of Security Parenting, aka COSP) in mothers with postpartum depression. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Will changes in methylation of the OXTR rs53576 be apparent in mother and/or infant after having gone through the 8-week COSP program? * Will COSP participation be associated with improved symptoms of postpartum depression (over and above standard care), attachment style, and relational characteristics of the mother-infant dyad? * Will COSP participation be associated with changes in social behavior in the infant, and if so, do they persist throughout childhood?

Participants will

* Participate in an 8-week COSP program delivered remotely via Zoom. * Provide buccal swabs (mother and infant) to assess changes in methylation of OXTR rs53576 pre- versus post-intervention. * Complete a series of assessment questionnaires delivered remotely. * Videotape a play-based assessment in their home. * Receive infant developmental testing

Researchers will compare characteristics of waitlist controls to those participating in the COSP program at the mid-way point of the program to see if the two groups differ.

What is being tested

• Circle of Security Parenting program (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver · Participants: 750 · Started: Aug 3, 2023

Contact the study team

• Sunny Stophaeros, MS · Phone: 9253392971

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05772897

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Postpartum Depression

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.