Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University of British Columbia

Code:

NCT07561632

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Partum Depression

Acute Stress Symptoms

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 19+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Postpartum Psychological Screening

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether early postpartum screening tools can predict the development of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms in individuals who undergo unplanned cesarean delivery.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Do scores on the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) collected 24-48 hours after delivery predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum?
  • Do scores on the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF) collected 24-48 hours after delivery predict childbirth-related PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum?

Participants will:

  • Complete questionnaires within 24-48 hours after delivery, including the PDI, CityBiTS-SF, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
  • Complete follow-up questionnaires at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum, including measures of PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, PCL-5) and depressive symptoms.

Researchers will evaluate whether early screening scores are associated with later symptoms of childbirth-related PTSD and postpartum depression, and will assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing routine inpatient screening for psychological birth trauma.

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Partum Depression

Acute Stress Symptoms

Study ID

NCT07561632

Start date

May 8, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Apr, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 19+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥19 years
  • Underwent unplanned cesarean delivery
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Able to read and understand English questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Fetal or neonatal demise
  • Unable to complete study questionnaires or provide informed consent

Study Design

Enrollment

420 participants

Anticipated

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

Unplanned Cesarean Delivery Cohort

Postpartum individuals aged 19 years or older who undergo an unplanned cesarean delivery at BC Women's Hospital \& Health Centre and consent to participate in the study.

Interventions

Postpartum Psychological Screening

Participants complete validated screening questionnaires 24-48 hours postpartum, including the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory, City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Follow-up surveys at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum include the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, EPDS, and City Birth Trauma Scale - Long Form

Primary outcome measure

  • Sensitivity of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI ≥15) for Predicting Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms at 6 Weeks Postpartum [ Time Frame: 6 weeks postpartum ]
  • Sensitivity of the City Birth Trauma Scale - Short Form (CityBiTS-SF ≥4) for Predicting Childbirth-Related PTSD Symptoms at 6 Weeks Postpartum [ Time Frame: 6 weeks postpartum ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Katherine Seligman, MD

604-875-2158katie.seligman@cw.bc.ca

Locations

BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre

Recruiting

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6H 3N1

Contacts

Katherine Seligman, MD

6048752158katie.seligman@cw.bc.ca

More Information

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Last update posted

May 19, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Childbirth Related PTSD
  • Psychological birth trauma
  • Peritraumatic Distress Inventory
  • City Birth Trauma Scale

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of British Columbia on 2026-05-19.