Perinatal Peer Support for Veterans With Serious Mental Illness

Conditions

• Persons With Psychiatric Disorders

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

FEMALE

Age

N/A - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Perinatal peer support — BEHAVIORAL
  The final intervention model, components, and timeline will be determined in an iterative process incorporating scientific evidence with input from Veterans, staff, and leadership in Aims 1 and 2. Preliminarily, the intervention is anticipated to begin with perinatal peer specialist contact by week 32 of pregnancy and continue for a duration of \~6 months. Session content may include psychoeducation and assessment of functional goals (e.g., related to employment, relationships, or illness management) and unmet social needs (e.g., housing, childcare, financial). Given that the initial postpartum period is a time of increased need for social support and vulnerability to mental health decline, peer support contact will continue until approximately 3 months postpartum.

Study Details

Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) are at high risk of exacerbation of mental illness in pregnancy and postpartum, with consequences including poor pregnancy outcomes, decreased functioning, and impaired child development. Peer support could play a key role in supporting pregnant and postpartum Veterans with SMI. In this study, investigators will develop (Aims 1 and 2) and pilot (Aim 3) a peer specialist-delivered perinatal mental health intervention for Veterans with SMI, drawing from evidence-based models and input from Veterans, key VA clinical staff, and subject matter experts. The intervention will be piloted to assess its feasibility and acceptability, as well as exploratory clinical outcomes including postpartum functioning and mental health symptoms.

Key Dates

Start date

Jul 1, 2028

Status verified

Jan 2026

Primary completion

Dec 31, 2030

Completion

Dec 31, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment

24 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

• Experimental: Usual care plus perinatal peer support
  Participants in this arm will receive the perinatal peer support intervention, delivered by a trained Veteran perinatal peer specialist. They will continue to have access to routinely offered mental health and health services, including but not limited to Maternity Care Coordination, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and/or social work.
• No Intervention: Usual care
  Usual care will include access to routinely offered mental health and health services, including but not limited to Maternity Care Coordination, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and/or social work.

Primary Outcome Measure

Feasibility of recruitment and retention [ Time Frame: up to 9 months ]

Central Contacts

• Nichole I Goodsmith, MD PhD
  (310) 478-3711
  [email protected]
• Kristina M Cordasco, MD MPH MSHS
  (310) 478-3711
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in West Los Angeles, CA