Online psychoeducation + skills intervention for pregnant women with PTSD enters pilot feasibility testing

Perinatal mental health challenges, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), significantly impact maternal and infant well-being. Untreated PTSD during pregnancy can lead to adverse birth outcomes, impaired mother-infant bonding, and increased risk of postpartum depression. Current interventions often face barriers like accessibility and stigma. This pilot study addresses the gap by exploring a brief, accessible online intervention, while also investigating the role of key biomarkers like oxytocin and cortisol in the context of PTSD symptoms and peripartum/postpartum outcomes.

This open trial pilot feasibility study will enroll 20 pregnant women in their first trimester who endorse elevated PTSD symptoms. Participants will receive a brief computer-assisted intervention consisting of psychoeducation + skills during their first trimester. A 'booster session' intervention will be offered post-delivery to reinforce skill utilization. Oxytocin and cortisol levels will be measured at baseline, one month post-intervention, three months post-intervention, and post-delivery using ELISA or similar immunoassay techniques to assess their relationship with PTSD symptoms and maternal outcomes.

This abstract describes the protocol for an open trial pilot feasibility study; therefore, no results or findings are presented at this stage. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of the intervention, alongside exploring the relationship between oxytocin, cortisol, PTSD symptoms, and peripartum/postpartum outcomes. The primary goal is to gather preliminary data to inform the design of future, larger-scale randomized controlled trials. No specific numerical outcomes, statistical significances, or effect sizes are available from this abstract.