Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Paternal Perinatal Depression

This study is testing an online group talking therapy, called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), designed for dads and dads-to-be in Ontario who are experiencing symptoms of depression. This can be during their partner's pregnancy or in the first 18 months after their child's birth. The aim is to see if this 9-week program, led by a specialist, can help reduce feelings of depression more than standard care alone. Participants will be randomly chosen to either receive the CBT in addition to their usual care or continue with their usual care only. We want to find out if this type of support is helpful and easy to take part in.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

McMaster University

Enrolment target

Start

09 Sep 2025

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2026

Perinatal Depression Fathers

What is this study about?

Becoming a dad is a huge life change, and it's common for some fathers or dads-to-be to experience feelings of depression, just like new mothers can. These feelings can start during pregnancy or in the first 18 months after their baby is born. This study recognises that dads need support too, and it's looking into a special kind of talking therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

CBT is a common and effective way to help people understand and change unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving, which can improve their mood. In this study, CBT will be offered in a group setting online, led by a doctor specialising in mental health and a public health nurse. The main goal is to see if offering this online group CBT is practical and helpful for dads and dads-to-be who are feeling depressed.

This is a 'pilot' study, which means it’s a smaller, early stage of research. It helps us learn if the program works well, if people like it, and if it's easy for them to join and complete. The findings from this pilot will then help researchers plan a larger study in the future to confirm how effective this therapy really is for supporting fathers.

Key takeaways

This study offers online talking therapy for depressed dads and dads-to-be.
It aims to see if online group CBT helps with paternal depression during pregnancy and early fatherhood.
The therapy is led by a psychiatrist and public health nurse.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive CBT or usual care.
The study helps improve support for fathers' mental health.
It's a pilot study, meaning it's an early step to plan future, larger research.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for men in Ontario who are either expecting a baby with their partner or already have a child under 18 months old. They should be fluent in English, both spoken and written, and be experiencing some symptoms of depression.

However, it's important that participants do not have certain other mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder, psychosis (which affects how you think and see things), borderline personality disorder, or a current problem with substance misuse. These conditions would make the study less suitable for them.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a father-to-be (your partner is pregnant) or a father with a baby under 18 months old?
Do you live in Ontario, Canada?
Can you speak and write comfortably in English?
Are you currently experiencing some feelings of depression?
Do you not have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychosis, borderline personality disorder, or a current substance use problem?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you'll first be asked to fill out some online questionnaires and have an interview over the phone to check if the study is right for you. If you qualify, there's a 50/50 chance, like flipping a coin, that you'll be put into one of two groups.

One group will receive the 9-week online group CBT program, while also continuing with any usual care they're receiving. The other group will just continue with their usual care. No matter which group you're in, you'll be asked to complete online questionnaires and a phone interview at the start of the study, again after 9 weeks, and a final time 6 months after you joined. If you're in the CBT group, you'll also be asked about your experiences and suggestions for the program to help make it even better.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of joining this study is the chance to receive a specialised online group CBT program that could help improve feelings of depression, which might not otherwise be available. Taking part also helps researchers understand better ways to support new fathers. As with any study, there's a small risk of feeling uncomfortable discussing personal feelings, but the group leaders are trained professionals. Remember, you have the right to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

McMaster University
Verified postcode
Hamilton, Canada

Common questions

What is 'perinatal depression'?

Perinatal depression refers to depression that occurs during pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth. This study focuses on fathers' experiences during this time.

What is CBT?

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, is a type of talking therapy that helps you identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours to improve how you feel.

Who will lead the online CBT groups?

The online group CBT sessions will be led by a mental health doctor (psychiatrist) and a public health nurse, both experienced professionals.

Do I have to live in a specific place to join?

Yes, this study is currently only for fathers or dads-to-be who live in Ontario, Canada.

Will I meet other dads in the study?

If you are placed in the group that receives CBT, you will take part in online group sessions with other fathers or dads-to-be.