Transforming Health and Reducing PerInatal Anxiety through Virtual Engagement (HOPE THRIVE)
The HOPE THRIVE Study focuses on assessing whether use of digital cognitive behavioral therapy (dCBT) can help reduce symptoms of anxiety in pregnant women and expecting mothers who are experiencing significant difficulty. HOPE THRIVE is nested within the Healthy Outcomes of Pregnancy for Everyone (HOPE) Research Consortium. Read more about HOPE HERE >
HOPE THRIVE study participants, researchers, clinicians and community partners are working together to uncover pathways to improved mental health and wellness during pregnancy.
Meet the Team >
What HOPE THRIVE Studies
HOPE THRIVE evalutes whether use of a specific type of therapy delivered by mobile application (digital cognitive therapy (dCBT)) leads to reduced symptoms of anxiety in pregnant women and expecting mothers with high levels of anxiety. It also evaluates whether use of the tool helps with other feelings of stress and depression or improves sleep in users.
The study is also examining whether pregnant people like using the application and whether they feel any adaptations would be helpful.
Further, the study team is working with health care providers and policy makers to identify factors that might help or hinder making dCBT broadly available to all pregnant people regardless of income level if it were found to help lesson anxiety symptoms.
Participation in HOPE THRIVE
HOPE THRIVE will begin enrolling women and expectant mothers in California who are receiving MediCal insurance and are experiencing high levels of anxiety starting in February 2024. Participants also have to meet other study criteria like, for example, being 18-years of age or older and being able to speak and read in english (given that the application that will be used and tested is in english). You can find out more about enrollment requirements on the study details page.
Individuals who enroll will be randomized to be in a group who receives access to the digital cognitive therapy (dCBT) by application immediately after enrollment or 10-weeks after enrollment. All participants will complete surveys at enrollment then at 3-weeks, 6-weeks, and 10-weeks afterward and then at 6 to 8 weeks after expected date of delivery. Participants can opt-in to participate in a focus group with other participants to discuss their experience.
"Randomization"
"Randomization" is the gold standard of therapy research. By assigning people at random (like a flip of a coin) to receive access to a therapy or not, it allows investigators to more accurately determine if a therapy works and allows us to be more confident that any differences at the end of the study are because of the dCBT program, and not because of pre-existing differences between people or changes over time.
HOPE THRIVE will randomize partcipants to receive access to the digital cognitive behavioral therapy application immediately after enrollment or at 10-weeks after enrollment.
Before you enroll in the study it is important that you feel okay being part of the study whether you receive access to the applcation immediately or in 10-weeks.
Compensation
As part of the study, all participants will receive free, ongoing access to the digital cognitive behavioral therapy application (during the study and until 6-months after the expected date of delivery for the current pregnancy).
Participants also receive up to $300 in Amazon gift cards as compensation for participation. Amazon gift cards are used for this purposed because they retain their full value and do not expire. A $50 electronic gift card is sent to each participant by email within 1 to 7 days after completion of each of the five required surveys. Individuals participating in an online focus group will receive an additional $50 Amazon gift card delivered electronically by email within 1 to 7 days after participation.
Need Help or Support?
If you need help finding information about local public health programs including about housing assistance, food programs, and other resources, please visit our HOPE Connnect page.
On this site you can also find mental health resources. Information about perinatal anxiety can specifically be found on the Postpartum Support International website
Free mental health resources are available for pregnant women and expectant mothers. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is a 24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms that is available in English and Spanish. You can call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) to receive mental health help. TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262.
