Maternal depression and mother-infant relationship dysfunction have reciprocal effects on each other. An integrated approach addressing both problems simultaneously may improve outcomes. Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy (PDP) was developed to prevent/decrease postpartum depression and facilitate optimal mother-infant relationships. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of PDP. Depressed first-time mothers (meeting diagnostic criteria for depression and/or with high depression symptom levels) and their 6-week-old infants will be randomized to receive either the PDP intervention or a control condition. The PDP intervention consists of 8 home-based, nurse-delivered mother-infant sessions consisting of (a) a supportive, relationship-based, mother-infant psychotherapeutic component, and (b) a developmentally based infant-oriented component focused on promoting positive mother-infant interactions. Control mothers will receive usual care plus depression monitoring by phone. Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 month follow-up. Assessments included maternal depression (diagnosis and severity), maternal anxiety (diagnosis and severity), parenting stress, and mother-infant interaction.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
42
8-session mother-infant psychotherapy (Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy) delivered by nurse-interventionists in participant's homes over 3 months
Standard care plus depression monitoring by phone
MGH Insiitute of Health Professions
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change from baseline on maternal depression diagnosis immediately following the 3 month intervention and at 3 months post-intervention as measured by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID)
Time frame: baseline, 3 months (post-intervention) and 6 months (follow-up)
Change from baseline in maternal depressive symptom scores immediately following the 3 month intervention and at 3 months post-intervention as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Time frame: baseline, 3 months (post-intervention) and 6 months (follow-up)
Mother-infant interaction (videotaped and coded) immediately following the 3 month intervention and at 3 months post-intervention
Time frame: 3 months (post-intervention) and 6 months (follow-up)
Change from baseline in maternal anxiety diagnosis immediately following the 3 month intervention and at 3 months post-intervention per Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID)
Time frame: baseline, 3 months (post-intervention) and 6 months (follow-up)
Maternal parenting stress immediately following the 3 month intervention and at 3 months post-intervention as measured by the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form (PSI-SF)
Time frame: 3 months (post-intervention) and 6 months (follow-up)
Change from baseline in maternal anxiety symptom level immediately following the 3 month intervention and at 3 months post-intervention as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State (STAI-State)
Time frame: baseline, 3 months (post-intervention), 6 months (follow-up)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.