Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Many new moms experience postpartum depression (PPD), but most don't get the help they need. We plan to create a tool called "PPD-Predict" using AI technology. This tool will try to figure out who will improve with a therapy known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We hope this will lead to better treatment for PPD. We aim to see if PPD-Predict can accurately identify who will improve with CBT. Those predicted to get better will show more improvement than those not anticipated or those who don't get CBT. We'll test this with a study involving 680 people. They'll be split into three groups based on PPD-Predict's predictions. Each group will get different treatments, and we'll track changes in their depression levels and how they bond with their babies. If this works, our tool could help reduce the impact of PPD on new moms and their families. We'll conduct our research ethically and hope it could change how mental healthcare is provided to new mothers, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. This three-year project will involve making the PPD-Predict tool, carrying out the study, and sharing our findings. This research will take place at the University of British Columbia, taking advantage of the institution's resources, like a wide range of patients, expert teams, and advanced technology.