Introducing mother-baby interaction therapy for mothers with postpartum depression and their infants

June Andrews Horowitz; Bobbie Posmontier; Lisa A Chiarello; Pamela A Geller

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2019.05.002

Introducing mother-baby interaction therapy for mothers with postpartum depression and their infants

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2019 Jun;33(3):225-231. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2019.05.002. Epub 2019 May 9.

Authors

June Andrews Horowitz¹, Bobbie Posmontier², Lisa A Chiarello², Pamela A Geller²

Affiliations

¹ University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747, United States of America. Electronic address: jhorowitz@umassd.edu.
² Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.

PMID: 31227074
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2019.05.002

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) and other perinatal mental health disorders have profound adverse effects on maternal-infant interaction and child health. However, standard psychiatric treatment does not necessarily improve the quality of mother-infant interaction. The purpose of this article is to describe the evidence-based CARE intervention and its translation to practice as Mother-Baby Interaction (MBI) Therapy to promote infant outcomes by supporting mothers' sensitive, responsive, and contingent interactions with their infants. Two vignettes illustrate MBI. We advocate that MBI needs to be a requisite adjunct treatment for PPD, and other perinatal mental health disorders, to promote maternal functioning, and positive long-term infant health outcomes.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Depression, Postpartum / therapy*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Mother-Child Relations / psychology*
Object Attachment
Pregnancy
Psychiatric Nursing