Strengthened parental support for expectant parents – a pilot to assess trial feasibility and preliminary outcomes

A pilot to assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial evaluating a strengthened parental support program vs standard support for expectant parents

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN11445342

Enrollment

374

Registered

2024-12-06

Start date

2014-12-09

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-09-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Mental health of expectant parents Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

The intervention Parenting with Awareness and Compassion consists of four group meetings, led by a midwife and is supported by a homepage with short informative texts and videos as well as audio files

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Expectant primiparous mother or partner of expectant primiparous mother 2. In pregnancy weeks 18 to 30 3. Patient enlisted in one of seven participating maternal health clinics 4. Swedish speaking 5. 18 years of age or over

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Previous or active psychosis, personality disorders

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Self-compassion is measured using the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form at baseline, 2 months (around gestational week 34) and 5 months (around 3 months postpartum) 2. Quality of life is measured using Assessment of Quality of Life 8-Dimension at baseline, 2 months (around gestational week 34) and 5 months (around 3 months postpartum)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Fear of birth is measured using the visual analogue score fear of birth at baseline and 2 months (around gestational week 34). 2. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at baseline, 2 months (around gestational week 34) and 5 months (around 3 months postpartum) 3. Anxiety is measured using the General Anxiety Disorder form at baseline, 2 months (around gestational week 34) and 5 months (around 3 months postpartum) 4. Prenatal attachment is measured using the Prenatal Attachment Inventory at baseline and 2 months (around gestational week 34) 5. Postpartum bonding is measured using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 5 months (around 3 months postpartum)	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Fear of birth is measured using the visual analogue score fear of birth at baseline and 2 months (around gestational week 34). 2. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at baseline, 2 months (around gestational week 34) and 5 months (around 3 months postpartum) 3. Anxiety is measured using the General Anxiety Disorder form at baseline, 2 months (around gestational week 34) and 5 months (around 3 months postpartum) 4. Prenatal attachment is measured using the Prenatal Attachment Inventory at baseline and 2 months (around gestational week 34) 5. Postpartum bonding is measured using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 5 months (around 3 months postpartum)

—

Countries

Sweden

Contacts

Public ContactGunilla Lönnberg

gunilla.lonnberg@uu.se+46 (0)72 999 96 22

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026