Overview
This study aims to learn about depression and alcohol use in postpartum mothers and whether an intervention based on contingency management and problem-solving therapy (CM-PST) can help reduce these symptoms. The main questions it seeks to answer are:
- How do new mothers fare with depressive symptoms and alcohol use in the first 12 months after giving birth?
- Will a CM-PST intervention reduce depressive symptoms and alcohol use frequency among new mothers?
- Is a CM-PST intervention practical for new mothers?
The researchers will recruit approximately 30 new mothers and randomly select half to attend a 6-week CM-PST intervention. They will compare those who received the intervention versus those who did not to see if there are any differences in their depressive symptoms and alcohol usage.
Participants will:
- Complete 4 remote intervention sessions over 6 weeks
- Conduct at-home urine drug tests 2x per week during the 6-week intervention
- Answer online surveys about their mental health and alcohol use
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Biologically female
- Age ≥18 years
- Within 12 months postpartum
- Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Serious medical or psychiatric conditions requiring hospitalization
- Lifetime DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or any psychiatric disorder
- Current use of psychoactive drugs, medication to treat problematic alcohol use, or depression
- Participation in past 6 months in problematic alcohol use or substance use treatment
- Unable to provide consent
