A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Postpartum Depression (PPD). Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Hong Kong
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A Prospective Cohort Validation Study
Overview
This pilot study will recruit 120 perinatal pregnant women and follow them up for 6 months. Both momentary and retrospective assessments of emotional well-being and psychosocial factors will be conducted on a mobile application. We aim to understand the symptom trajectories and provide evidence for effective individualized interventions.
Detailed description
The proposed study addresses the knowledge gaps regarding the validity of mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for dynamic patterns of mood symptoms and associated factors in women during pregnancy through postnatal period. The investigators hypothesize that the validity of mobile-based EMA is appropriate in women during pregnancy through postnatal period and that participants will exhibit at least two trajectories of depressive symptoms with high and low severity over a six-month period from the third trimester to three months postpartum. This prospective study using single group design will recruit 120 pregnant women for a six-month period. Clinical and self-rating assessments of mood symptoms and lifestyle information will be conducted on a mobile application. There will be a total of six periods EMA assessments and seven retrospective assessments. Six EMA questions for mood, sleep, exercise, physical well-being, and environmental context will be administered three times daily for five consecutive days, and the Edinburgh Postnatal depression Scale will be assessed at baseline and each month during the six-month period. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to examine the feasibility and validity of mobile-based EMA. Hierarchical cluster analysis and multiple regression model will be used to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms, and associated factors.
Interventions
- Diagnostic test Ecological momentary assessment and retrospective assessment
The intervention includes daily EMA components, and monthly retrospective assessments.
Primary outcome measures
- Ecological Momentary Questions (Mood) [Time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.]
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) [Time frame: At the baseline and the end of each of the 6 months in the period.]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Ecological Momentary Questions (Lifestyle and Physical Wellbeing) [Time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.]
- Ecological Momentary Questions (Contextual) [Time frame: Three momentary assessments per day for five days in each month for 6 months, displayed randomly within each of the following intervals: 0900-1300, 1300-1800 and 1800-0000.]
- Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) [Time frame: At the baseline and the end of each of the 6 months in the period]
- Post-study acceptance survey [Time frame: The survey will be conducted via online when the participants complete 6-month study.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Pregnant women in their first and second trimesters.
- Aged 18 years and older.
- Able to read and understand Chinese
- Own a smartphone with iOS or Android system.
Exclusion criteria
- Psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., schizophrenia, intellectual disability or mood disorders), comorbid brain conditions (history of epilepsy, stroke, or brain tumors), or learning disabilities.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Hong Kong · 1 center
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hong Kong
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07382336 · 20211291 · 20211291