Navigating Motherhood: New Study Examines Postpartum Depression in Mothers with Spinal Cord Injury

A significant number of childbearing women in the U.S. are affected by postpartum depression and anxiety. In fact, according to CDC research, studies indicate that up to one in five women may experience depression and anxiety during the perinatal period, with about 500,000 women affected annually.

While some data suggests that women with spinal cord injury (SCI) are more at risk for these problems—due to SCIs leading to a higher risk for depression and anxiety—there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the lived postpartum experience and maternal mental health in the SCI population.

And that’s where Craig’s research study on the postpartum experience after SCI comes into play.

Funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, this donor-supported study seeks to better understand the lived experiences of women who have had a live birth following SCI, including their mental health challenges, parenting experiences, access to care, and the impact of social and environmental factors on postpartum recovery.

“Through in-depth interviews with women across the country, this research aims to identify barriers to screening, diagnosis and support for postpartum mental health in this underserved population,” explains Jean Berliner, PT, Ph.D., DPT, NCS, the study’s principal investigator, a Regis University associate professor, and a Craig PRN physical therapist.

“By centering patient voices, this work will inform future research, improve interdisciplinary collaboration, and guide the development of more responsive, patient-centered care models,” she says.

The study, which began in April 2025, is expected to enroll about 35 mothers. One-on-one interviews with women with SCI who have had a child, regardless of having a postpartum depression and/or anxiety diagnosis, will be held over a two-year period.

Interview questions will ask about the health care that mothers received postpartum, including any depression and/or anxiety screening that was performed and any diagnoses that were made. “We will also examine how other life factors have affected medical care received by these women,” she says.

Jean adds, “We intend to use the information gathered through these interviews to design future studies to learn more about these issues and develop ways to better treat and support them. This will be one of the first studies to delve into the mental and physical challenges of having a baby for women with SCI. By better understanding these issues from the perspective of women with SCI, we can design future large-scale studies to better diagnose and treat mental and functional disability in the postpartum period and improve the quality of life for these women.”

Learn more about the Postpartum Experience After Spinal Cord Injury study.