Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Mar 2, 2026
Date Accepted: Jul 22, 2026
Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy for fathers with postnatal depression: A randomised controlled trial of DadBooster
ABSTRACT
Background:
Up to one in ten fathers experience postnatal depression. Fathers are even less likely to seek help and receive adequate treatment compared to depressed mothers. Digital treatments hold significant potential for engaging and supporting fathers, but no effective program exists.
Objective:
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a new online cognitive-behavioural therapy program, DadBooster, for treating postnatal depression in fathers.
Methods:
A parallel, two-group randomised controlled trial (n=50) was conducted comparing the DadBooster intervention to a Waitlist Control who received routine care. Fathers with a baby under 12 months of age and diagnosed with depression using the Quick Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (QuickSCID-5) participated. Primary outcomes were severity of symptoms of depression on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and remission from the depressive episode (QuickSCID-5) at 12 weeks post-enrolment.
Results:
Mean depression symptoms on the DASS-21 at 12 weeks were significantly lower for the DadBooster condition than the Waitlist Control condition (F1, 47=12.80, P=.001, ηp2=.21), with average scores reducing by 72% (compared to a 40% reduction in the Waitlist Control condition) and dropping to the ‘normal’ range at 12 weeks. Only 2/23 (8.7%) participants assessed in the DadBooster condition still met diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder at 12 weeks compared with 7/24 (29.2%) in the Waitlist Control condition; however, this was not significant (Fisher’s exact test, P=.14). Significant differences were found for stress (F1, 47=8.73, P=.005, ηp2=.16), parenting self-efficacy (F1, 47=7.93, p=.007, ηp2=.14), and negative automatic thoughts (F1, 47=9.71, P=.003, ηp2=.17). Participants engaged well with the intervention – 80% (20/25) visited four or more sessions – and attrition was low.
Conclusions:
This RCT demonstrates the efficacy of DadBooster, the first online treatment for clinically diagnosed postnatal depression in fathers. DadBooster has significant potential for engaging and supporting large numbers of fathers due to its benefits over conventional treatments of being more accessible, private, convenient, and scalable. Clinical Trial: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622001029785); https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=384268&isReview=true
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