DadBooster: A Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Depression Treatment for New Fathers

INTERVENTION: DadBooster Internet‐based treatment: Participants allocated to the intervention will receive the DadBooster Internet‐based treatment program. This is an interactive online cognitive‐behavioural therapy program developed to treat paternal postnatal depression. It consists of 6 online sessions to be completed one per week (over 6‐9 weeks). Each session takes approximately 30 minutes to work through. The program also includes additional content in the form of eight information articles that can be accessed at any time, at the participant s own discretion. The articles cover the following topics: the couple relationship, communication skills, sleep and caring for baby, sensing baby's needs, managing time, managing stress, getting support, and problem solving (each around 5‐10 minutes to read). The program includes a Partner Support Website that participants can invite their partners to access. Partners can access this at their own discretion. The Partner Support Website contains information for partners on paternal postnatal depression and caring for oneself and baby. The information is presented in the form of text and images and can be read in 10‐20 minutes. Participants allocated to the intervention will also receive regular SMS messages to encourage and motivate them to continue using the program (11 messages in total over 6 weeks, approximately 2 per week). A letter will be sent to each participant s GP informing the GP of their participation in the study and diagnosis. Website analytic tools and database flags will allow collection of program usage data in an unobtrusive manner, generating records of number and duration of visits to the program website and number of program sessions completed. CONDITION: Depression;Anxiety; ; Depression ; Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression PRIMARY OUTCOME: Diagnosed depressive episode on the SCID‐5[12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean depression score on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales[12‐weeks post‐enrolment] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Mean anxiety score on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales[9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean behavioural activation on the Behavioural Activation for Depression Scale[9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9[2‐weeks, 4‐weeks, 9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean negative thoughts on the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire[9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean parenting self‐efficacy on the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale[9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean relationship quality on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale‐7[9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] Mean stress score on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales[9‐weeks and 12‐weeks post‐enrolment] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Diagnosis of current major or minor depressive episode; 6 weeks to 1 year postpartum; a Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 score > 9; ability to understand English; familiarity with the Internet and e‐mail; home Internet access; able/willing to give informed consent