An interventional study of Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Perinatal Anxiety (CBT-PA) and No treatment (waitlist control) in Perinatal Anxiety, sponsored by University of Manitoba. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-19.
Sponsored by University of Manitoba · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Our previous pilot study (N = 40) suggested that group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for perinatal anxiety (CBT-PA) significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression from pre- to post- intervention. CBT-PA is based on the general principles of CBT but specific themes and examples are geared towards pregnancy and postpartum periods. The 6-week treatment protocol addresses: (1) understanding anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, (2) self-care, (3) setting goals and facing fears, (4) nurturing the developing relationship with baby, (5) coping with negative thoughts and worries, and (6) relapse prevention. This intervention and all assessment interviews will be conducted via a hospital-approved video-conferencing platform. All assessment questionnaires will be completed on SurveyGizmo. The objectives of the present study are: (1) to replicate these findings of the pilot study in a larger sample (N = 58) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), (2) compare the effectiveness of CBT-PA to a control treatment (waitlist control), (3) evaluate the durability of treatment gains at 1-month and 3-months after the conclusion of treatment, (4) evaluate patient preferences in terms of the relevance and the acceptability of the CBT-PA protocol, (5) examine whether the degree of childbirth stress impacts patient response to CBT-PA to inform future refinements to the treatment, and (6) determine whether CBT-PA improves maternal efficacy and attachment with baby. This research is being conducted because many women suffer from perinatal anxiety and have difficulty accessing services in a timely manner. It is the hope that the findings of this study will have clinical significance in terms of providing additional support for CBT as an effective treatment for perinatal anxiety. It is the hope that this treatment will have mental and physical health benefits for the mothers directly, as well as mental and physical health benefits to their fetuses and infants.
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Using cognitive-behavioural therapy principles, this group therapy is intended to treat perinatal anxiety.
Behavioral: Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Perinatal Anxiety (CBT-PA)
This is a control condition in which patients are randomly assigned to the waitlist control condition before receiving the treatment.
Other: No treatment (waitlist control)
The 6-session group CBT intervention for perinatal anxiety has been formalized with session guides for the facilitators and a workbook, "Overcoming Anxiety in Pregnancy and Postpartum" (Furer \& Reynolds, 2015), developed by members of our Anxiety Disorders Clinic. There are 6 core modules covered over the 6 treatment sessions, including: (1) Understanding anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, (2) self-care, (3) setting goals and facing fears, (4) nurturing the developing relationship with baby, (5) coping with negative thoughts and worries, and (6) relapse prevention. Content is based on general principles of CBT for anxiety but specific themes and examples are geared towards the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Distorted cognitions are also explored, with an additional focus on beliefs about motherhood and perfectionism. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intervention will be conducted via a hospital-approved video-conferencing platform.
Patients in this condition are randomly assigned to a waitlist control condition before receiving treatment.
Change in scores on the Perceived Stress Scale
This is a 10-item self-report measure that assesses the extent to which one's life is appraised as stressful. Scores can range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived stress.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment); immediately post-treatment; 1- and 3-month follow-ups; and weekly during treatment up to 6 weeks
Changes in scores on the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale
This is a 31-item self-report measure assessing symptoms of anxiety during the perinatal period. Scores on this measure can range from 0 to 93, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety. It will be used in the current investigation to examine changes in anxiety symptoms across time.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment); immediately post-treatment; 1- and 3-month follow-ups; and weekly during treatment, up to 6 weeks
Change in scores on the The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
10-item self-report measure assessing symptoms of postnatal depression on a 0 to 3 scale. Scores can range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating higher levels of postnatal depression.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment), immediately post-treatment; 1-month follow-up; 3-month follow-up; and weekly during treatment, up to 6 weeks
Change in scores on the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale
This is a 19-item self-report measure that assesses maternal attachment towards her unborn baby in the antenatal period. This measure will be administered to women who are participating in the study during the prenatal period. Scores range from 19 to 95, with higher scores indicating a higher level of attachment to the fetus.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment), immediately post-treatment, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up
Change in scores on the Maternal Efficacy Questionnaire
This is a 10-item self-report measure that assesses a mother's perception of her own parenting competence. Scores on this measure range from 10 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of self-efficacy.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment), immediately post-treatment, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up
Change in scores on the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale
This is a 19-item self-report measure that assesses maternal attachment towards her infant during the postnatal period. This measure will be administered to women who are participating in the study during the postpartum period. Higher scores indicate higher levels of attachment to baby.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment), immediately post-treatment, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up
Post-Delivery Perceived Stress Inventory
This is a 29-item self-report measure of the degree of stress experienced as a result of the birth experience specifically. The PPSI will be administered at the intake assessment to postpartum women. Scores range from 0 to 116, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived stress.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment)
The Treatment Acceptability/Adherence Scale
This is a self-report measure of treatment acceptability. It will be administered at treatment outset to determine the perceived acceptability of the treatment to participants. Scores range from 7 to 70, with higher scores indicating higher levels of treatment acceptability.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (at the outset of treatment)
The Treatment Satisfaction Measure
This measure was developed for use in our clinic to evaluate patient impressions of treatment. Four items regarding the helpfulness of the sessions, the group aspect, the workbook, and the focus on perinatal issues are rated on a 5-point scale (i.e., from "very helpful" to "not at all helpful"). Two additional yes/no questions are included, regarding whether participants would recommend the program to other perinatal women and whether they themselves would participate in the group again if needed. Two final open-ended questions are included regarding what patients liked about group, and any suggestions they would have for changes to future groups.
Time frame: Immediately post-treatment
Change in scores on the The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
A 14-item clinician-administered interview scale used to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. It will be used in the present study to examine changes in anxiety symptoms from pre- to post-treatment. Scores can range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety severity.
Time frame: Pre-treatment; immediately post-treatment; 1-month post-treatment; 3-months post-treatment
The Homework Checklist
A list of all homework assignments from each session. Participants will complete the list at each session regarding the previous week's homework assignments, whether they worked on each element, for how long, and any comments they might have.
Time frame: From group treatment session two, up to five weeks.
The Treatment Protocol Adherence Checklist
A checklist copy of the group leader's guide to each session, with a spot to check off if each element was covered, and open-ended questions regarding deviations from the protocol; and other session occurrences of note.
Time frame: Completed by group leaders weekly, up to 6 weeks.
The Coronavirus Stressor Survey
A 10-item survey that asks about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the lives of participants.
Time frame: Pre-treatment (intake assessment)
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