START DATE AND DURATION: March 2021The COSI study is a 4-year multi-site randomised controlled trial to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of a 10-session, group-based programme called Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) for birthing parents in NHS perinatal mental health services (PMHS). The COS-P programme is designed to help parents manage their difficult emotions and understand the impact of this on the parent-infant relationship.
This research aims to understand whether COS-P is more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in improving mental health difficulties and the quality of parent-infant relationships. Secondary objectives of the study are to explore observed parenting sensitivity, emotion regulation skills, attachment security and infant development in addition to assessing cost-effectiveness, service-user and practitioner acceptability.
As part of several PhD projects, researchers are also reviewing the literature to understand the clinical effectiveness of group interventions for parents with mental health difficulties and children under 5. The results of the systematic review will help to evaluate the effective components and overall impact of group interventions implemented to this specific group of parents. Additionally, one of the PhD students on the projects is trying to learn more about the effects of conflict in parental relationships.
This research is funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme.
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