Current Projects

Our Focus

The PAR Lab is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers, and their babies. Pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period are times of significant change and challenge, that can have a significant impact on maternal mental health. We look to investigate how mental health issues can:

  • develop and/or be exacerbated during the perinatal period;
  • affect the physical health of women; and
  • ultimately, affect the physical health of their babies.

Current Projects

Here is a listing of all of the PAR Lab’s Current Projects. If you would like to learn more about any projects, please feel free to Contact Us.

New Mothers’ Thoughts of Harm, OCD, and Infant Safety

Most new mothers experience unwanted thoughts about harm coming to their infant. These thoughts can be about accidental or intentional harm, and may be upsetting to the women who experience them. The purpose of this research is to learn more about the relationship of these kinds of thoughts to new mothers’ experience of depression, anxiety and parenting. Learn more about our Infographic on Postpartum Harm Thoughts.

Screening for Perinatal Anxiety and Related Disorders

One in five pregnant and postpartum women are affected by anxiety and related disorders. However, lack of routine screening means that many who could benefit from treatment may not be identified. We are currently investigating which screening tools for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders are the most appropriate for use during pregnancy or the postpartum period.

We are currently recruiting for participants in our Perinatal Anxiety Screening Study. Learn more about how to participate.

Past Projects

For more information about previous projects, please visit our Sharing Science page.