Reducing Perinatal Depression and Enhancing Parenting

Principal Investigator: Luis H. Zayas, PhD
Funder: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (5R24MH057936)
Timeframe:  Funded 4/98 - 1/03
Affiliation:  Fordham University

Project Contact: Luis H. Zayas, PhD, (314) 935-9448
                            lzayas@wustl.edu

Project Update as of  03/07/2008:
Stage: Project completed.

Description: The primary objective of this study was to determine the extent to which a psychosocial intervention combining cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression with child development information and social support reduced depressive symptomatology and risks of impairments in maternal interactions with infants among low SES.  The study comprised of 300 low SES Puerto Rican (n = 75), Dominican (n = 75), and African-American (n = 150) women during pregnancy and early postpartum receiving prenatal services at inner-city primary care clinics of a major medical center. Using a randomized, controlled clinical trial, the aims of the study were to determine: (1) the impact of the psychosocial home and primary care intervention on women's depression symptomatology, sensitivity and responsivity to their infants, and sense of parental competency when their infants were 3-months old compared to standard clinic services; (2) the possible moderated effects of specific psychosocial factors and demographic variables on the effectiveness of the psychosocial intervention; (3) how women's prenatal care utilization psychosocial and demographic factors impacted perinatal depression. The experimental group consisted of pregnant depressed women receiving the psychosocial intervention. A comparison group of pregnant depressed women  received the standard services offered by their health care centers. A second comparison group of non-depressed pregnant women also received standard services.

Publications:

McKee, M.D., Zayas, L.H., Fletcher, J., Boyd, R.C., Nam, S.H.  (2006).  Results of an Intervention to Reduce Perinatal Depression Among Low-Income Minority Women in Community Primary Care.  Journal of Social Service Research, 32, 63-81.

Zayas, L.H., Jankowski, K.R.B., McKee, M.D.  (2005).  Parenting Competency Across Pregnancy and Postpartum Among Urban Minority Women.  Journal of Adult Development, 12, 53-62.

Zayas, L.H., McKee, M.D.., Jankowski, K.R.B. (2004).  Adapting Psychosocial Intervention Research to Urban Primary Care Environments: A Case Example.  Annals of Family Medicine, 2, 504-508.

McKee, M.D., Zayas, L.H., Jankowski, K.R.B.  (2004).  Breastfeeding intention and practice in an urban minority population: relationship to maternal depressive symptoms and mother-infant closeness.  Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 22, 167-181.

Zayas, L.H., Jankowski, K.R.B., McKee, M.D.. (2003).  Prenatal and postpartum depression among low-income Dominican and Puerto Rican women.  Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 25, 370-385.

Cunningham, M., Zayas, L.H.  (2002).  Reducing Depression in Pregnancy: Designing Multimodal Interventions.  Social Work, 47, 114-123.

Zayas, L.H., Cunningham, M., McKee, M.D., Jankowski, K.R.B.  (2002).  Depression and negative life events among pregnant African-American and Hispanic women.  Women's Health Issues, 12, 16-22.

McKee, M.D., Cunningham, M., Jankowski, K.R.B., Zayas, L.H.  (2001).  Health-Related Functional Status in Pregnancy: Relationship to Depression and Social Support in a Multi-Ethnic Population. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 97, 988-993.