Video-feedback intervention in mother-baby dyads with depressive symptomatology and relationship difficulties

Abstract

© 2015 Italian Area Group of the Society for Psychotherapy Research.Post-partum depression (PPD) is one of the most common complications associated to maternal suffering, negative effects for the baby, and difficulties in the relationship. Video-feedback is a particularly effective technique used in dyadic ear-ly interventions. A brief intervention for mother-infant dyads with maternal depres-sive symptomatology was implemented using this technique, and was assessed in a longitudinal, quasi-experimental and quantitative study. 61 mother-baby dyads par-ticipated, with ages ranged from 18 to 41 years in mothers, and 8,4 to 18,8 months in their babies. The results show an improvement in the quality of the interaction, with a significant increase of maternal sensitivity, and a significant decrease in con-trol. A significant reduction of depressive symptomatology was not found, although the frequency of major depression episodes and bonding risk decreased.