Group program to prevent postpartum depression, offered in-person or online
Official title: Group-based Prevention of Postpartum Depression: In-person vs. Virtual Delivery
Funded at University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) · NIH-11128331 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares a group program given in person or by video to help pregnant people lower their chance of postpartum depression, offered in English and Spanish.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $741,405 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130976-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128331 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant people receiving prenatal care at a participating site who speak English or Spanish and are willing to join group sessions in person or by video.
✕Less likely to help
People who need immediate or intensive treatment for severe depression or psychosis, those who prefer one-on-one therapy, or those without reliable internet for virtual groups may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If you are pregnant, you could join an evidence-based group program called ROSE delivered either at your prenatal clinic or by video conferencing. Participants are randomly assigned to in-person groups or virtual groups led by the same trained staff and attend a series of sessions before and after birth. The study will track mood and related outcomes during pregnancy and after delivery to see who develops postpartum depression. Researchers will also look at which parts of the program help most and whether some people benefit more than others.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make an effective prevention program widely available online so more pregnant people can avoid postpartum depression.
How similar studies have gone: Similar group prevention programs like ROSE have shown benefit in reducing postpartum depression, though virtual delivery has not been fully tested in a randomized trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhoades, Galena — University of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
- Study coordinator: Rhoades, Galena
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Group-based postpartum depression prevention: in-person vs. virtual delivery
A large study is testing whether the ROSE group program delivered virtually to pregnant people is just as helpful as the in-person version in preventing postpartum depression.
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Postpartum depression screening at well-child visits in Arkansas
A study examines whether adding depression screening at baby visits in Arkansas improves detection and care for new mothers.
-
Ketamine to reduce postpartum depression and pain after cesarean delivery
This grant explores a ketamine approach to help new mothers after cesarean delivery feel better sooner and with less pain.
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Trajectories of Positive Motivation and Postpartum Depression Risk
This project studies how brain reward function and daily mood patterns before and after birth relate to the risk of postpartum depression, with a focus on mothers and babies.
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ROSE Scale-Up: Expanding universal postpartum depression prevention for new mothers
A national effort to roll out the ROSE prevention program to all new mothers, to see if universal use can reduce postpartum depression.
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How Medicaid Postpartum Coverage and PPD Screening Could Improve Diabetes and Blood Pressure Care After Birth
A large NIH grant is studying how extending Medicaid after birth and mandating postpartum depression screening affect care for women with gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.