The ACORN study: Coping and Relaxation in Pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adapting and testing a brief intervention to reduce maternal anxiety during pregnancy.
IRAS ID
137253
Contact name
Paul Ramchandani
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
For many women, pregnancy is a positive experience. However, for some, pregnancy can intensify existing areas of anxiety and introduce new areas of concern. For example, women have reported increased worries about the adequacy of their support, and anxiety about their pregnancy, birth and parenting. These feelings can have a considerable impact on the woman and her developing foetus. Babies of mothers who have had higher than average levels of anxiety during pregnancy have more problems in their emotional, behavioural and cognitive development. These same women are
also at an increased risk of postnatal anxiety and depression, both of which make it challenging for the mother to provide care for her baby, and can interfere with the formation of a secure emotional bond between mother and infant.Despite the fact that anxiety is common during pregnancy and may have adverse consequences for the mother and her baby, there is very little research into the most effective and acceptable ways of helping women. However, a guided self-help intervention designed to help parents prepare for the emotional aspects of parenting has recently been tested in Australia and shown to reduce anxiety in expectant mothers. In order to reach the greatest number of women in an effective and cost-effective fashion, we plan to adapt this intervention to be delivered to women with elevated anxiety by midwives in the context of routine antenatal care. In order to do this, we will first trial the intervention with a small group of women and gain feedback from them in order to understand what modifications are needed. The findings from this phase will be used to guide the final refinement of a
brief psychological intervention to reduce anxiety in pregnant women which will then be tested for feasibility and acceptability in a randomised controlled trial.REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0339
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion