Are you pregnant and feeling down? You’re not alone.
Depression is a common pregnancy complication, affecting up to 1 in 7 women. But there is help available. Welcome to Beating the Blues before Birth (BBB) – A study for depression during pregnancy.
The Beating the Blues Before Birth (BBB) study is a government-funded research project that is evaluating the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment for depression during pregnancy. CBT is a proven effective treatment for depression, and it can help you to improve your mood, manage stress, and cope with the challenges of pregnancy.
If you are interested in participating in the BBB study, you will receive a free comprehensive assessment with a psychologist to determine whether the study is suitable for you. If the study is suitable for you, you will be randomly assigned to either receive 8 free sessions of CBT treatment or to be referred to your GP for support.
As a participant in the BBB study, you will be reimbursed for your time filling out questionnaires. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to important research on the treatment of depression during pregnancy.
The BBB study is available to women across Australia.
FAQ’s
If you are experiencing depression during pregnancy, the Beating the Blues Before Birth study can help. This government-supported research study is evaluating the benefits of psychological treatment for depression in pregnancy, for both mother and baby.
By taking part in the Beating the Blues Before Birth study, you will receive:
- A clinical assessment to determine whether the study is suitable for you
- 8 free sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered by a psychologist via telehealth or face-to-face, OR a referral to your GP and/or other health professionals for support
- Monitoring of your mental health until 2 years post birth
- A report on your child’s motor and cognitive development at the final follow-up (2 years of child’s age) if you wish
The study is suitable for women who are:
- Experiencing depression (based on our telephone clinical assessment)
- Less than 30 weeks pregnant
- Over 18 years of age
- Fluent in English
- Giving permission to disclose the results of the clinical assessment with their health professional (i.e., GP, midwife or obstetrician)
To sign up for the study, simply click on the “Register Now” button. We will then contact you to book in a telephone assessment with the study psychologist to determine whether the study is suitable for you.
If the study is suitable for you, you will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups: CBT or referral to your GP (or another health professional) for support. If you are allocated to the GP referral group, you are encouraged to continue seeking treatment independently while remaining in the study, however the study will not cover treatment expanses.
You will be asked to complete questionnaires at 4 time points with the last follow-up carried out at 2 years after your child is born. You will receive $20 for every time you complete these questionnaires.
The Beating the Blues Before Birth study is a great opportunity to receive free CBT treatment for depression during pregnancy. CBT is a proven effective treatment for depression, and it can help you to feel better and improve your quality of life.
The benefits of signing up for the Beating the Blues Before Birth study include:
- Receiving free CBT treatment for depression during pregnancy or referral to your GP/ another health professional he through which you can seek treatment independently
- Helping to advance research on the treatment of depression during pregnancy
- Potentially improving the quality of life for yourself and your baby
- $20 reimbursement for each set of follow-up questionnaires you complete
If you are experiencing depression during pregnancy, we encourage you to sign up for the Beating the Blues Before Birth study. It is a great opportunity to receive effective treatment and help to improve your mental and emotional well-being.
If you have a patient who is experiencing depression during pregnancy, we encourage you to refer them to the BBB study. To refer a patient to the BBB study, simply complete the clinician referral form. We will then contact your patient to book in a telephone assessment with the study psychologist to determine whether the study is suitable for them.
Share our BBB Poster
If you know a woman who is experiencing depression during pregnancy, please share our BBB poster with her. This poster provides information about the study and how to sign up. By sharing the poster, you can help to spread the word about this important research and help women get the support they need.
