Engage & Connect psychotherapy improves social reward responsivity and reduces postpartum depression

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/n4p75_v1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-05T17:39:00Z
• Authors: Nili Solomonov; Oded Bein; Aliayah Himelfarb; Maddy Schier; Zareen Mir; Sarah Brown; Meghan Mcdarby; Lauren Osborne; Faith Gunning; Meghan Reading Tu...; Natalie C. Benda; Victoria Wilkins
• Keywords: Depression

Abstract Importance: Postpartum depression (PPD) is common, undertreated, and debilitating for women infants. There an urgent need scalable treatments PPD. Women with PPD experience disruptions in reward-supported behaviors - reduced behavioral activation social reward responsivity. Thus, the system a promising target psychotherapy. Objective: Engage & Connect (E&C) novel neuroscience-informed psychotherapy that increases engagement rewarding experiences to restore reduce We tested whether E&C reduces severity feasible acceptable also examined improved are mediators of response E&C. Design: A pilot one-arm study postpartum from November 17, 2022 January 26, 2024 large healthcare system. Setting: were recruited Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork Presbyterian Hospital New York City communities this remote study. Participants: 38 women, up 1-year post delivery, Intervention: 9-week intervention, delivered by community therapists. It aims increasing activities. Main Outcomes Measures: Our primary outcome was severity, measured EPDS. Secondary outcomes included responsivity (ACIPS) (BADS) – candidate EPDS reduction. Additional secondary perceived support (MSSPS) infant-mother bonding (PBQ). Semi-structured interviews retention rates acceptability. Results: Among (Mean Age=34.7 [SD=3.69]; 71% White, 18% Asian, 3% Black, 5% other, 10% Hispanic), (86% retention). outcome, significantly during (EPDS change=8.6 points (SD=3.8); 83% remission, 73% response). Further, we observed significant improvement responsivity, mediated reduction (ACIPS [ACME] = -.052; BADS [ACME]= -.18). Finally, found improvements infant bonding. Conclusions Relevance: may be first-line improving functions lead long-term benefits mothers Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05585164