Early Programming of Cognitive and Mental Health Laboratory

01/30/2026

Are you or someone you know a father or father-to-be who has been feeling down?

McMaster University is recruiting participants for a research study: CBT for Paternal Perinatal Depression Pilot RCT. The study aims to determine whether a group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention is helpful for fathers and fathers-to-be who have been feeling depressed, sad, anxious, worried, angry, or overwhelmed.

Half of participants will attend an online, 9-weeek group CBT program designed for fathers. Half of participants will receive care as usual.

You may be eligible to participate if you are:
- 18 years or older and living in Ontario
- Identify as a father who is expecting or have a baby less than 18 months old
- Able to read and communicate in English

For more information and to register, visit: https://redcap.link/dadscbt or email dadscbt@mcmaster.ca.

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HiREB) under Project #19097. Version 1: August 26, 2026.

Principal Investigator: Ryan Van Lieshout, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University

01/19/2026

Are you experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression?

McMaster University is conducting a research study to determine if mothers/birthing parents who receive an online, group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) intervention for postpartum depression improve more than individuals who receive standard care.

Women who are eligible for the study are randomly assigned to the intervention group or to a control group. The intervention group participants are offered an online 9-week CBT program, in group format, co-delivered by trained Public Health Nurses and Peer facilitators (i.e., individuals who have recovered from postpartum depression). The control group participants do not receive the group CBT program but continue to receive usual healthcare available from any healthcare provider. All study participants receive a total of $90 in Walmart gift cards for completing 3 online questionnaire packages.

You may be eligible if you are living in Ontario, are 18 years or older, and have a baby under 12 months of age.

For more information please email: peerphn@mcmaster.ca.

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board under Project #16833.

01/14/2026

Are you experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression and/or anxiety?

McMaster University is conducting a research study to examine whether mothers and birthing parents with postpartum depression and anxiety experience greater improvement with an online group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program compared to standard care.

You may be eligible if you are living in Ontario, are 18 years or older, and have a baby under 12 months of age.

Those who are eligible for the study are randomly assigned to the intervention group or to a control group. The intervention group participants are offered an online 10-week CBT program, in group format. The control group participants do not receive the group CBT program but continue to receive usual healthcare available from any healthcare provider. All study participants will be asked to complete 3 online questionnaire packages and 3 brief structured telephone interviews.

To register, please use this link: https://redcap.link/cbtstudy
For more information please email: groupcbt@mcmaster.ca

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board under #18932 Version 3 July 22 , 2025

Thank you very much for your interest in the Online Transdiagnostic 10-week Group CBT for Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Anxiety Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial study.

09/16/2025

Are you experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression and/or anxiety?

McMaster University is conducting a research study to examine whether mothers and birthing parents with postpartum depression and anxiety experience greater improvement with an online group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program compared to standard care.

You may be eligible if you are living in Ontario, are 18 years or older, and have a baby under 12 months of age.

Those who are eligible for the study are randomly assigned to the intervention group or to a control group. The intervention group participants are offered an online 10-week CBT program, in group format. The control group participants do not receive the group CBT program but continue to receive usual healthcare available from any healthcare provider. All study participants will be asked to complete 3 online questionnaire packages and 3 brief structured telephone interviews.

To register, please use this link: https://redcap.link/cbtstudy
For more information please email: groupcbt@mcmaster.ca

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board under #18932 Version 3 July 22 , 2025

Thank you very much for your interest in the Online Transdiagnostic 10-week Group CBT for Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Anxiety Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial study.

09/02/2025

McMaster University is recruiting participants for a research study: CBT for Paternal Perinatal Depression Pilot RCT. The study aims to determine whether a group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention is helpful for fathers and fathers-to-be who have been feeling depressed, sad, anxious, worried, angry, or overwhelmed.

Half of participants will attend an online, 9-weeek group CBT program designed for fathers. Half of participants will receive care as usual.
You may be eligible to participate if you are:
- 18 years or older and living in Ontario
- Identify as a father who is expecting or have a baby less than 18 months old
- Able to read and communicate in English

For more information and to register, visit: https://redcap.link/dadscbt or email dadscbt@mcmaster.ca.

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HiREB) under Project #19097. Version 1: August 26, 2026.

Principal Investigator: Ryan Van Lieshout, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University

06/25/2025

McMaster University is conducting a research study to explore postpartum depression treatment preferences among mothers and birthing parents living in Ontario. Learn more or sign-up to participate here: https://rsjh.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=EW434WME4TLH4J8C

Those who are eligible to participate will complete one online survey regarding their previous and current postpartum depression treatment experiences, preferred type of treatment, mode of delivery and treatment provider, and barriers and facilitators to accessing treatment.

You may be eligible if you are living in Ontario, are 18 years or older, and have a baby under 12 months of age.

For more information please email: PPDpref@mcmaster.ca or visit the link above.

This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board under Project #18360.