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Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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Session Recording

Late-Breaking Abstract Presentations Session 2

Late-Breaking Abstract Presentations

Late-Breaking Abstract Presentations Session 2

(LB03) Behavioral Health-Enhanced Group Prenatal Care Prevents Postpartum Depression: The EleVATE Trial

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM  
Location: Summit 201 - 204
Objective:

To determine whether behavioral health-enhanced Group Prenatal Care (GC) reduces postpartum depression in underserved settings.

Study Design:

Type 2 hybrid implementation-effectiveness randomized controlled trial at 7 Missouri clinics (4 federally qualified health center sites, 3 academic center sites). Patients were randomized 2:1 to individual care (IC) or EleVATE GC, a 10-session GC intervention embedding mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. Groups were co-facilitated by an obstetric clinician and team member. Facilitators received 16 hours of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and behavioral health training. Primary outcome was Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6-weeks postpartum, analyzed as positive screen (EPDS >10) and continuous score. Secondary outcomes were anxiety, PTSD, perceived stress, preterm birth, and SGA. Analyses followed intention-to-treat and used generalized estimating equations to estimate risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes and generalized linear mixed-effects models for continuous outcomes. The p<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">rimary outcome was adjusted for baseline depression.

Results:

Among 307 randomized patients (205 GC, 102 IC), 297 (197 GC, 100 IC) were analyzed after 10 withdrew consent; 88% completed 6-week postpartum assessment. Baseline characteristics were similar. The sample was 61.3% Black, 20.3% Hispanic, 15.1% White; 28% had baseline EPDS >10; 76.1% had public insurance. Fewer patients in EleVATE screened positive for depression (8.4% vs. 17.5%; RR 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-0.80). Continuous EPDS scores did not differ between groups.  Secondary outcomes did not differ overall. Among 84 patients with baseline EPDS >10, fewer screened positive for depression (11.5% vs. 43.5%; RR 0.28; 95% CI 0.12-0.64), anxiety (19.7% vs. 47.8%; RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24-0.87), and PTSD (8.6% vs. 39.1%; RR 0.22; 95% CI 0.09-0.57).

Conclusion:

EleVATE reduced positive depression screens by 56%, with greater effect (72%) among those with elevated baseline depression. This scalable model addresses a critical gap in perinatal mental health care for underserved populations.