Early Intervention for Postpartum PTSD: Comparing Written Exposure and Capnometry Guided Breathing Therapy
Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (2) locations...
Intervention Type: Behavioral, Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY
The purpose of this study is to examine two early interventions, Written Exposure Therapy and Capnometry Guided Breathing, to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in women after childbirth as compared to usual care.
Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: Female
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:
• Age ≥18
• Delivered a live infant within 5 days
• Severe maternal morbidity or infant admitted to NICU
• PCL-5 ≥28
• English-speaking
• Able to consent and participate
Locations
United States
Arkansas
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Little Rock
California
Stanford University
RECRUITING
Palo Alto
Time Frame
Start Date: 2026-03-09
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-12
Participants
Target number of participants: 70
Treatments
No_intervention: Postpartum Standard of Care
Participants will follow their current standard of care.
Experimental: Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
Participants will complete 5 writing sessions. One 50-minute session will be held in the hospital before discharge, followed by four 50-minute sessions by secure video once a week. Sessions are delivered by a trained study therapist under licensed clinician supervision.
Experimental: Capnometry-Guided Breathing Intervention (CGRI)
Participants will complete one 45-minute in-hospital training session using the device, which includes a tablet and breathing sensor. They will then practice guided breathing at home twice daily for about 17 minutes each time for 4 weeks, with weekly phone check-ins from study staff.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), University of Arkansas
Leads: Stanford University