The goal of this study is to conduct a fully-powered randomized efficacy study of IPT for MDD following perinatal loss. Our perinatal-loss adapted group IPT will be compared to a standard depression intervention (CWD, also delivered in a group format) in a sample of 274 women experiencing MDD following perinatal loss. The proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) will test the hypotheses that: (1) IPT for perinatal loss will result in reduced time to recovery from MDD (primary), depressive symptoms, and PTSD symptoms (secondary) relative to CWD; and that among women meeting criteria for PTSD, IPT will result in reduced time to recovery from PTSD; (2) IPT for perinatal loss will result in increased social support, social role functioning (including parental functioning for women with living children), and well-being, and decreased grief and fear of subsequent pregnancies, relative to CWD; and (3) social support and grief will mediate the effects of IPT on time to MDD recovery.
This study tests the efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for major depression following perinatal loss (early and late fetal death and early neonatal death) in a sample of 274 women in Flint and Detroit, Michigan. The trial will be the first fully powered randomized trial of treatment for any psychiatric disorder following perinatal loss.