Couples-based approach to prevent perinatal depression in rural India

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project adapts and tests a couples-based treatment called JODI, designed for delivery by lay counselors in low-resource settings. It targets mothers during the perinatal period and engages spouses to build coping skills and address gender norms that affect mental health. The study will pilot the approach in rural communities connected to the Vadu HDSS in Maharashtra, India, using weekly sessions that integrate evidence-based coping strategies and relational support. If successful, this work could lead to scalable, community-based support for families dealing with perinatal depression in similar LMIC contexts.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• University of California, San Francisco
  San Francisco, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Gopalakrishnan, Lakshmi — University of California, San Francisco
• Study coordinator: Gopalakrishnan, Lakshmi

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Couples-based approach to prevent perinatal depression in rural India

  A pilot program in rural India tests a couples-based, lay-counselor–delivered approach to prevent perinatal depression for new mothers and their partners.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11538905

• Machine learning to tailor and prevent perinatal depression for pregnant and new mothers

  A machine learning project at Carnegie Mellon aims to find personalized, scalable ways to prevent perinatal depression in pregnant people and new mothers.

  NIH research Carnegie-Mellon University · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11415592

• Online sleep therapy to prevent depression during and after pregnancy

  This project will see whether an online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can help prevent depression during pregnancy and in the first year after childbirth for pregnant people with insomnia.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11402619

• Understanding how gut and body signals interact to influence perinatal depression

  A study of pregnant people exploring how the gut microbiome and body signals contribute to depression during and after pregnancy.

  NIH research University of Illinois at Chicago · Chicago, UNITED STATES · NIH-11372334

• Couples program to prevent depression during pregnancy and after birth in rural India

  A couples-based program to help first-time pregnant women and their partners in rural India lower the chance of depression during pregnancy and after childbirth.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11371935

• IMAGINE digital group program to prevent perinatal depression

  This pilot offers a mobile group-based cognitive behavioral program called IMAGINE to help pregnant and postpartum people lower their chance of developing depression.

  NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11289432

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.