Child-Parent Psychotherapy Examined in a Perinatal Sample: Depression, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Child-Rearing Attitudes

Abstract

This pilot study examined the potential impact of a perinatal adaptation to Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), an evidence-based treatment for traumatized mother–child dyads, on maternal functioning 6 months post-partum among women with history of complex trauma and current intimate partner abuse. Pregnant women (n = 64) enrolled during the third trimester of their pregnancy (Mean gestational age = 27.48 weeks, range of 12 to 42) and participated in weekly perinatal CPP sessions until their infant was 6 months old. Women completed measures of trauma history, depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and child-rearing attitudes at pre- and post-treatment. Results showed decreases in depression and PTSS from pre- to post-treatment assessments, as well as an increase in positive child-rearing attitudes. As hypothesized, women with low maternal-fetal attachment demonstrated the greatest improvement in depression, PTSS, and child-rearing attitudes compared to women with high maternal-fetal attachment. The current study provides promising results indicating that a perinatal adaptation of CPP may lead to improved maternal mental health and parenting attitudes at a time of increased vulnerability in a high-risk population.