IMAGINE digital group program to prevent perinatal depression
Official title: IMAGINE: pilot trial of a digital group intervention to prevent perinatal depression
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11289432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot offers a mobile group-based cognitive behavioral program called IMAGINE to help pregnant and postpartum people lower their chance of developing depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $218,563 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH131571-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant people or those up to one year postpartum who are at elevated risk for perinatal depression and who have access to a smartphone or internet connection.
✕Less likely to help
People without perinatal risk factors, those already receiving effective in-person therapy, or those without reliable internet access may not benefit from this digital group program.
What this research studies
You would join a phone- or web-based group program that teaches proven cognitive-behavioral skills adapted from the Mothers and Babies course. IMAGINE was co-designed with pregnant people and healthcare providers to fit busy schedules and overcome barriers like transportation, cost, and childcare. The team will run a small pilot to see whether people can use and like the program and to gather early information on symptom changes. The program focuses on reaching people at higher risk for perinatal depression, including those with fewer resources or prior adverse experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could make CBT-style prevention support easier to access and could lower rates of perinatal depression for parents and improve outcomes for their children.
How similar studies have gone: The Mothers and Babies CBT approach and some digital CBT programs have shown promise for preventing perinatal depression, though digital group delivery is still being piloted and refined.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ronen, Keshet — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Ronen, Keshet
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Couples-based approach to prevent perinatal depression in rural India
A new, family-focused program helps new mothers and their husbands address perinatal depression in rural India using trained lay counselors.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.