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Curio’s MamaLift Plus™ is an eight-week prescription digital therapeutic that provides symptomatic relief for maternal anxiety and depression.
This blog was updated on Oct 30, 2024 to add additional detail about how providers prescribe the treatment, bill for their time, and more.
Digital therapeutics (DTx) represent a promising frontier in healthcare. They leverage app-based software to deliver targeted interventions for various health conditions. Digital therapeutics are prescribed by healthcare providers and are subject to rigorous clinical trial requirements and regulatory oversight, similar to medication or medical devices.
This past April, the first DTx for maternal mental health, MamaLift Plus™, was approved by the FDA. The treatment, developed by Curio, was studied by randomized control trial. Patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression who used the treatment improved by four or more points on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). As per ACOG guidelines, providers are encouraged to screen during and after pregnancy. This is enabled by the MamaLift Plus app. Screeners are presented to patients in a gamified fashion, encouraging patients to respond openly and honestly without the stigma and pressure of sitting in front of a clinician.
The prescribed app leverages proprietary algorithms and personalized digital behavioral interventions to facilitate the timely identification of which patients need intervention support and treatment.
The FDA found MamaLift Plus effectively connects patients to appropriate intervention diverting approximately 2 out of 3 cases that would have developed into severe depression.
The interventions and treatment provide bite-sized daily lessons based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), on-demand, self-paced lessons developed by experts, the ability to uncover trends & gain actionable insights on mood, activity, sleep, health vitals tracking, and includes live health coaches & therapists. Coaches are typically social workers or other public health professionals. All coaches have prior clinical experience and a master’s degree or greater and training in maternal mental health, and principles of coaching, and they perform a series of “mock” sessions. Coaches also experience the program as a patient would. Patients can choose to meet virtually with a health coach or engage via ongoing asynchronous chat.
The app is to be used as an adjunct to clinician‐managed outpatient care.
According to the company, the FDA-approved program/app will be available in summer 2024. When this new product hits the market, the Policy Center’s menu of treatment options will be updated.
FAQs
As the range of new treatments for maternal mental health disorders evolves, the Policy Center will continue to monitor and report on the availability, access, and coverage issues related to these treatments, including digital therapeutics. These treatments hold significant promise in expanding the toolkit available to healthcare professionals, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for patients.
