Remote Peer Support in Prevention of Postpartum Depression

The project aims to test the clinical effectiveness of the Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention, a newly developed approach to the prevention of postpartum depression (PPD) and to determine its cost-effectiveness. The approach consists of online screening for risk of PPD in obstetric settings, and subsequent remote peer support intervention for women at risk of PPD development. As a preparation for proposed study, investigators have developed the Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention which is based in mother-to-mother delivered psychoeducation, basic procedures of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness, shared personal experience with postpartum depression and, if necessary, referring to a professional consultation. Proposed study will allow investigators to bring missing Czech methodological procedures for the early screening of PPD development risk, and for subsequent non-pharmacological intervention. Further, investigators will be able to present economic data on proposed intervention to relevant stakeholders in mental health policy. To achieve these aims, investigators will 1) set up a screening program in five Czech maternity hospitals 2) conduct a randomized controlled trial (n= 60 per each arm), and 3) conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of the Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention. Investigators will test the following primary hypotheses: H1: Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention will decrease depressive symptoms in women at risk of PPD development. Secondary hypotheses: SH1: Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention will reduce anxiety symptoms in women at risk of PPD development. SH2: Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention will increase women's health-related quality of life. SH3: Mom´s Supporting Moms intervention is cost-effective in comparison to treatment as usual.