Improving depression and anxiety care for new parents at a children's hospital
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Learning Laboratory in a Freestanding Children's Hospital
This program is creating easy, one-stop screening and treatment for postpartum depression and anxiety for parents whose babies are treated at a children's hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's National Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145695 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent with a baby in the NICU or who brings my child to the Pediatric Emergency Department, this project will set up simple screening for postpartum mood and anxiety where I already receive care. The team will use a five-phase systems engineering approach to design streamlined workflows for screening, referral, and treatment so parents avoid long, confusing navigation between clinics. They will pilot and refine these solutions in the NICU and PED to make the process faster, less resource-heavy, and more likely to connect people with care. The aim is a practical "one-stop-shop" that offers point-of-care mental health support for parents while their infant is treated.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Parents—especially mothers—of infants treated in the NICU or seen in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Children's National Medical Center would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not parents of infants treated at this children's hospital or those who live far away and cannot access care at this site are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, parents could get faster, easier access to mental health care at the same place their baby is treated, reducing untreated postpartum depression and its effects on families.
How similar studies have performed: Other programs integrating screening and mental health into perinatal care have shown promise, but embedding a full "one-stop" model inside children's hospital settings is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- Children's National Medical Center — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Soghier, Lamia — Children's National Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Soghier, Lamia
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 below.