Abstract
BackgroundMothers with postpartum depression (PPD) show impaired affects and behaviour patterns in the mother-child interaction, which affects an infant's emotional and cognitive development and the maternal course of disease. However, impairment of the mother-child relationship does not occur in every case of PPD. AimThe aim of this exploratory-descriptive video-based study was to investigate the possible associations between mother-child interactions and aspects of maternal biography and clinical history, with a focus on pre-existing mental disorder. MethodsSixty-two mother-child dyads (31 mothers with PPD and pre-existing mental disorders and 31 mothers with PPD but no further mental disorder) hospitalized at the mother and baby unit (MBU) of the LWL-Hospital Herten were included in this study. The Marcé Clinical Checklist and the “Mannheimer Beurteilungsskala zur Erfassung der Mutter-Kind-Interaktion im Säuglingsalter” (MBS-MKI-S) were used to explore sociodemographic and clinical parameters, and video-based interaction behaviour was examined. ResultsMother-infant interaction behaviour showed a significant group difference on the MBS-MKI-S-Vm subscale (variability in maternal behaviour) before psychiatric treatment (exact Mann-Whitney U test: U = 555, p = 0.023), with higher scores in mothers with a pre-existing mental disorder. Furthermore, significant differences were shown on the MBS-MKI-S-RSm (maternal reactivity/sensitivity) (U = 259, p = 0.019) and MBS-MKI-S-Rc (child's reactivity) subscales at discharge (U = 251, p = 0.021). Among mothers with a pre-existing diagnosis, the MBS-MKI-S-Tm (maternal tenderness) and MBS-MKI-S-Rc (child's reactivity) subscales were significantly correlated after treatment. ConclusionsMothers with PPD and a pre-existing mental disorder displayed significantly more behavioural variability than mothers with only PPD. Maternal behaviour seems to influence the child's responsive behaviour; thus, mothers and their children can benefit from inpatient treatment at an MBU. Further investigations with larger samples should be conducted.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.