About

Cynthia Battle is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Her academic background includes a bachelor's degree from Vassar College, and both her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She initially came to Brown to complete her predoctoral internship and continued her training through an NIMH postdoctoral fellowship focused on treatment development research. Her research primarily concentrates on mood disorders among perinatal women, including perinatal depression, postpartum depression, and women's mental health. Additional research interests include perinatal substance use, anxiety, and the development of interventions such as physical activity programs and yoga during pregnancy and postpartum. Her work is based at both Butler and Women & Infants' Hospitals, and she has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous NIH research grants. Her contributions include advancing understanding and treatment of perinatal mental health issues, developing innovative intervention strategies, and exploring factors affecting maternal-infant bonding and mental health during the perinatal period.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• Feasibility and acceptability of a physical activity intervention to reduce prenatal cannabis use: results of an open pilot trial

  Frontiers in Psychiatry · 2026-01-30

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Cannabis is commonly used among reproductive-aged individuals, and prenatal cannabis use (PCU) has increased dramatically in recent years, despite guidance warning of possible adverse outcomes. Physical activity interventions have been shown to reduce substance use in other populations. Building on this, we examined the feasibility and acceptability of a 10-week prenatal walking intervention in a small trial with 16 pregnant individuals who were seeking to reduce PCU. Participants wore a Fitbit to track activity and attended 6 sessions designed to promote gradual increases in daily step count. Indicators of feasibility, acceptability and safety were assessed, as were changes in cannabis use, physical activity, depression and anxiety. Results suggest the intervention was feasible and acceptable; most women (88%) completed the intervention, attending on average 5.8 of 6 sessions, with strong compliance to Fitbit wear. No adverse events were reported. Findings provide preliminary evidence for intervention efficacy: 62.5 percent of participants endorsed PCU at baseline vs. 16.6% by the 36 week assessment; in addition, by endpoint, physical activity increased from an average daily stepcount of 5738 at baseline to 6562, and anxiety and depression were significantly lower. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention on a satisfaction survey and in an interview. Participants voiced appreciation for the accountability provided by the intervention, and support for making gradual, achievable changes in behavior. Though preliminary, findings suggest a physical activity intervention could be a valuable strategy to help reduce PCU. Further research is needed to evaluate the intervention in a more rigorous controlled trial.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Feasibility and acceptability of Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) for perinatal bipolar disorder

  Journal of Affective Disorders · 2026-05-06

  articleOpen access

  The perinatal period, pregnancy through postpartum, is destabilizing for people with bipolar disorder (BD). Few studies have examined adjunctive psychotherapy for perinatal BD despite its potential benefits for managing symptoms, psychosocial stress, sleep disturbance, and medication adherence. The goal of this pilot study was to develop an adaptation of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) as an intervention for perinatal BD and test feasibility and acceptability (primary) and mood symptom change (secondary) outcomes in an open trial design. Modifications to the 20-session IPSRT included perinatal specific psychoeducation, strategies to increase social support, and focus on sleep-wake interruptions associated with newborn care. Participants were enrolled during pregnancy. Depressive and manic symptoms were assessed at the end of treatment (4 months postpartum) and at 2-month follow-up (6 months postpartum). Feasibility and participant satisfaction were also assessed. A total of 14 pregnant women were enrolled and ten (71%) completed follow-up assessments. The average number of sessions attended was 14 out of 20. Participant satisfaction was high (31.25 out of 32). Depressive symptoms were significantly lower at the end of treatment and 2-month follow-up relative to baseline. IPSRT shows potential as an adjunctive intervention for managing mood in patients with perinatal BD. Future research is needed to examine benefits of flexible intervention delivery and patient engagement. IPSRT for BD directly targets known correlates of mood destabilization during the perinatal period, interpersonal functioning and circadian rhythm disruption. Further examination of IPSRT during the perinatal period is imperative. • We adapted Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy by including perinatal specific psychoeducation, skills, and strategies. • Participants were highly satisfied with the intervention, and most were able to complete the minimum number of sessions. • Improvements in depressive and manic symptoms were observed, though interpreted cautiously in this pilot study. • Future trials of IPSRT for perinatal bipolar disorder will likely require multi-site collaboration to increase feasibility.

  PublisherDOI

• Intentions and Motives for Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Postpartum: Preliminary Daily Diary Findings on Planned and Unplanned Use

  Cannabis · 2026-03-31

  articleOpen access

  Objective: Perinatal cannabis use is a significant public health concern linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Despite growing evidence of prenatal cannabis use (PCU) risks, many individuals use it to manage symptoms such as nausea, anxiety, or pain. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) identifies intentions as key predictors of substance use. While intentions and use patterns have been well studied in non-pregnant populations, research on prenatal intentions for cannabis use is limited. This pilot ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study examines: (a) cannabis use and non-use days in terms of intentions and use; (b) associations between daily intentions and use across prenatal and postpartum; and (c) motives linked to planned versus unplanned use. Method: Pregnant participants (N = 20; Mage = 30.15) reporting current prenatal CU completed two 14-day EMA bursts (in pregnancy and at 6-weeks postpartum) tracking daily CU, motives, and intentions. Planned use days were coded based on morning endorsement of intention to use, followed by reported use; unplanned use days were coded based on no morning intention, followed by reported use. Results: Planned use was most common both in pregnancy and postpartum, followed by planned nonuse, unplanned use, and foregoing plans to use. Intentions strongly predicted daily cannabis use (OR = 5.78, p < .001), with no significant difference between pregnancy and postpartum. Common motives across both planned and unplanned days included relaxation, pain relief, and sleep improvement. Some motives, including appetite increase and anxiety reduction, were more frequent on planned days, while enhancement motives were more common on unplanned days. Conclusions: Findings support TPB’s relevance to perinatal cannabis use, highlighting distinct motives for planned versus unplanned use. Larger samples are needed to expand these insights.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Incorporating Family Members Into Treatment for Perinatal Psychiatric Disorders: A Pilot Program.

  PubMed · 2026-05-01

  articleSenior author

  INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Though perinatal psychiatric disorders affect the entire family, most perinatal mental health interventions only include mothers. Here, we detail the implementation of a single-session, virtual, family support group for partners and family members of mothers with perinatal psychiatric disorders. METHODS: The family support group was created within a mother-baby partial hospital program for people experiencing perinatal psychiatric disorders. Patients in the program provided consent to contact their partner or family member. This person was offered participation in a complementary, one-hour virtual support group. Led by a clinical psychologist, the support group was designed to serve as a standalone psychoeducational intervention on perinatal mood disorders. Sessions were offered bi-weekly to facilitate access. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous survey soliciting mixed-method feedback about the group. RESULTS: Of 105 people who consented to contacting their family members regarding the support group, 70 (65%) family members reported interest, and of these, 45 (64%) attended a support group session. Among the 13 participants who provided feedback (29%), there was a high level of satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 M=27.25; score >24=high satisfaction) and the perception that participation increased their knowledge of and empathy toward their family member's experiences. The most common feedback was a desire for more sessions. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, a virtual family support group was feasible and yielded high participant satisfaction. Future research should examine how this or other digital programs could make perinatal mental health care more accessible for partners and family members.

  Publisher

• Associations between daily pain severity and concurrent alcohol craving among women in early recovery following alcohol treatment

  Drug and Alcohol Dependence · 2026-05-05

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) for women are rising, and women remain more likely to experience serious alcohol-related harms and consequences compared to men. Pain may complicate AUD, as it often co-occurs with alcohol use. However, relations between pain and alcohol craving, an important predictor of return to alcohol use, are underexplored, particularly among women with AUD. PURPOSE: =44.1, 90.3% White). Additionally, we sought to understand any differences in pain-alcohol craving associations by type of pain (joint/muscle vs. headache pain). METHODS: Data were drawn from a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for improving alcohol abstinence. Participants completed three, 10-day periods of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) during the first 90 days post-treatment to report pain severity (headache and joint/muscle pain) and alcohol craving. RESULTS: =.03, p = .036). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight pain as a relevant factor in AUD recovery for women and suggest that pain management may be an important consideration for AUD treatment programs.

  PublisherDOI

• Association between partner status and postpartum depression among participants in a perinatal mental health collaborative care program

  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2026-02-19

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Use of cannabis to regulate negative affect in pregnancy: Bidirectional findings from an ecological momentary assessment study.

  Psychology of Addictive Behaviors · 2026-05-04

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: Prenatal cannabis use is increasing in the United States, despite evidence of potential harms to pregnant individuals and their offspring. Elevated rates of anxiety and depression among those who use cannabis during pregnancy suggest that mental health difficulties may contribute to prenatal cannabis use. In line with the affect regulation hypothesis, many pregnant individuals endorse using cannabis to manage mood. However, no studies have examined this relationship in real time. Moreover, the acute effects of cannabis on mood during pregnancy remain understudied, limiting knowledge of whether negative affect (NA) relief reinforces continued use. Addressing these gaps, the present study examines the relationship between momentary NA and cannabis use in pregnant adults and explores the effect of cannabis on NA. METHODS: = 22.5 weeks, 60% White) completed a baseline session followed by a 14-day ecological momentary assessment burst (average of 14.95 cannabis use events per burst). RESULTS: Generalized linear mixed-effects models tested whether momentary ratings of depression, anxiety, and irritability predicted subsequent cannabis use (Aim 1), and linear mixed-effects models tested whether cannabis use predicted subsequent changes in NA (Aim 2). Aim 1 results indicated that greater levels of NA (momentary depression, anxiety, and irritability) were associated with greater odds of using cannabis. Aim 2 results suggest cannabis use was followed by reductions in depression, anxiety, and irritability, reflecting short-term NA relief. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide the first real-time evidence supporting the affect regulation hypothesis in pregnancy and highlight the potential reinforcing role of NA relief in sustaining prenatal cannabis use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

  PublisherDOI

• A retrospective chart review study of patients treated in a hospital-based brexanolone program

  Archives of Women s Mental Health · 2025-05-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Perinatal Cannabis Use, Depression, and the Mother-Child Dyad: Protocol for a Prospective Multimethod Study

  JMIR Research Protocols · 2025-10-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) rates in the United States are among the highest globally, and PPD can pose significant, long-term risks to families. Concurrently, perinatal cannabis use is increasing in prevalence and may exacerbate PPD. Although evidence links cannabis use with PPD, little is known about its impact on immediate depressive symptoms or depression trajectories across the perinatal period. Moreover, the potential impact of cannabis use on mother-child attachment, bonding, and emotional availability could intensify the effects of cannabis on PPD. OBJECTIVE: This protocol study is a longitudinal investigation aimed at detecting initial signals of the daily and long-term associations between cannabis use, PPD symptoms, and the mother-infant relationship. METHODS: Participants (N=20) were individuals carrying a singleton pregnancy who reported using cannabis at least twice weekly. Recruitment was through community outreach and online advertisements. Study participation began with a baseline laboratory assessment during pregnancy, which included surveys on mental health and substance use. Follow-ups were conducted virtually at 6 weeks post partum and in the laboratory at 6 months post partum and included additional surveys on infant development, aspects of the mother-infant relationship (eg, attachment), as well as behavioral interaction tasks. Each assessment was paired with a 2-week ecological momentary assessment burst, resulting in three bursts. To support retention, brief check-in visits were completed during the second and third trimesters (depending on gestational age at enrollment), and a postdelivery phone call was conducted within 2 weeks of delivery. A 2-level linear mixed-effect models will be used to examine both event-level and person-level associations of cannabis use with momentary negative affect, PPD symptoms, and attachment, bonding, and emotional availability. Interaction models will test whether these characteristics of the mother-child relationship intensify the association between cannabis use and PPD symptoms. RESULTS: This project received institutional review board approval on December 19, 2022, and was awarded funding on February 1, 2023. The recruitment goal of 20 participants was reached on September 4, 2024. Recruitment challenges were encountered early in the study, leading to successful adaptations in recruitment and data collection protocols. Follow-up data collection is ongoing, with completion expected by October 2025 and results anticipated by April 2026. Retention rates approach 100% at follow-up, and ecological momentary assessment compliance rates exceed those observed in nonpregnant samples (ie, >80%). CONCLUSIONS: This protocol study demonstrates our ability to collect momentary and longitudinal data to examine the daily and cumulative impact of cannabis use on PPD and the mother-infant relationship. These data are well-positioned to provide preliminary evidence on how cannabis use may shape depressive symptoms during a particularly high-risk period for maternal mental health. The findings will inform a larger-scale study and advance understanding of the potential effects of cannabis use on perinatal mental health. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/71302.

  PublisherDOI

• Perinatal Cannabis Use, Depression, and the Mother-Child Dyad: Protocol for a Prospective Multimethod Study (Preprint)

  2025-01-23

  preprintOpen access

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Postpartum depression (PPD) rates in the United States are among the highest globally, and PPD can pose significant, long-term risks to families. Concurrently, perinatal cannabis use is increasing in prevalence and may exacerbate PPD. Although evidence links cannabis use with PPD, little is known about its impact on immediate depressive symptoms or depression trajectories across the perinatal period. Moreover, the potential impact of cannabis use on mother-child attachment, bonding, and emotional availability could intensify the effects of cannabis on PPD. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This protocol study is a longitudinal investigation aimed at detecting initial signals of the daily and long-term associations between cannabis use, PPD symptoms, and the mother-infant relationship. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> Participants (N=20) were individuals carrying a singleton pregnancy who reported using cannabis at least twice weekly. Recruitment was through community outreach and online advertisements. Study participation began with a baseline laboratory assessment during pregnancy, which included surveys on mental health and substance use. Follow-ups were conducted virtually at 6 weeks post partum and in the laboratory at 6 months post partum and included additional surveys on infant development, aspects of the mother-infant relationship (eg, attachment), as well as behavioral interaction tasks. Each assessment was paired with a 2-week ecological momentary assessment burst, resulting in three bursts. To support retention, brief check-in visits were completed during the second and third trimesters (depending on gestational age at enrollment), and a postdelivery phone call was conducted within 2 weeks of delivery. A 2-level linear mixed-effect models will be used to examine both event-level and person-level associations of cannabis use with momentary negative affect, PPD symptoms, and attachment, bonding, and emotional availability. Interaction models will test whether these characteristics of the mother-child relationship intensify the association between cannabis use and PPD symptoms. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> This project received institutional review board approval on December 19, 2022, and was awarded funding on February 1, 2023. The recruitment goal of 20 participants was reached on September 4, 2024. Recruitment challenges were encountered early in the study, leading to successful adaptations in recruitment and data collection protocols. Follow-up data collection is ongoing, with completion expected by October 2025 and results anticipated by April 2026. Retention rates approach 100% at follow-up, and ecological momentary assessment compliance rates exceed those observed in nonpregnant samples (ie, &amp;gt;80%). </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> This protocol study demonstrates our ability to collect momentary and longitudinal data to examine the daily and cumulative impact of cannabis use on PPD and the mother-infant relationship. These data are well-positioned to provide preliminary evidence on how cannabis use may shape depressive symptoms during a particularly high-risk period for maternal mental health. The findings will inform a larger-scale study and advance understanding of the potential effects of cannabis use on perinatal mental health. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> <p/> </sec> <sec> <title>INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT</title> DERR1-10.2196/71302 </sec>

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R34MH085053

  NIH · $569k · 2014

• NIH Grant R34MH079108

  NIH · $594k · 2012

• NIH Grant K23MH066402

  NIH · $887k · 2008

Frequent coauthors

• Ana M. Abrantes

  190 shared

• Ivan W. Miller

  Brown University

  116 shared

• Lisa A. Uebelacker

  Butler Hospital

  107 shared

• Margaret Howard

  92 shared

• Michael D. Stein

  Boston University

  72 shared

• Claire E. Blevins

  Providence College

  50 shared

• Susan J. Wenze

  Lafayette College

  49 shared

• Caron Zlotnick

  49 shared

Labs

• Cynthia Battle LabPI

Education

• B.A.

  Vassar College

• M.S.

  University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Ph.D.

  University of Massachusetts Amherst