Recruiting

CM-PST

Sponsor:

University of Illinois at Chicago

Code:

NCT07485036

Conditions

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Alcohol Use

Contingency Management

Problem Solving Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Contingency Management & Problem Solving Therapy

Usual Care

Study Details

Brief summary:

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:

1. How do new mothers fare with depressive symptoms and alcohol use in the first 12 months after giving birth?
2. Will a CM-PST intervention reduce depressive symptoms and alcohol use frequency among new mothers?
3. 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

Conditions

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Alcohol Use

Contingency Management

Problem Solving Therapy

Study ID

NCT07485036

Start date

Oct 1, 2026

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Nov 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Contingency Management & Problem Solving Therapy (CM-PST) Intervention Group

Receives 4 remote sessions of CM-PST therapy over 6 weeks while conducting at home urine drug tests 2x weekly.

placebo comparator: Usual Care Control Group

Interventions

Contingency Management & Problem Solving Therapy

A 6-week online CM-PST course delivered through video conferencing calls consisting of 4 educational sessions, combined with 2x weekly at-home drug testing to monitor the reduction in alcohol use and reduced depression symptoms.

Usual Care

Participants randomized to the usual care condition will continue to receive standard postpartum care from their obstetrician-gynecologist, consistent with routine clinical practice. No additional psychological intervention will be provided as part of the study.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in postpartum depression symptoms [ Time Frame: Screening, Baseline, 3 months ]
  • Alcohol use test results [ Time Frame: Baseline, Weekly, 3 months ]
  • Change in alcohol use screening status [ Time Frame: Screening, Baseline, 3 months ]
  • Change in alcohol-related negative consequences [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months ]
  • Change in alcohol use [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months ]
  • Change in reasons for drinking [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Hagar Hallihan, PhD, RN

312-413-7822hhalli2@uic.edu

Locations

University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, University of Illinois College of Medicine

Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612

Contacts

Hagar Hallihan, PhD, RN

312-413-7822hhalli2@uic.edu

Principal Investigator:

Hagar Hallihan, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Illinois at Chicago

Last update posted

Oct 13, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-14. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Illinois at Chicago on 2026-10-13. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.