Mother-Infant Intervention for Postpartum Depression and Associated Mother-Infant Relationship Dysfunction
Mother-Infant Intervention for Postpartum Depression and Associated Mother-Infant Relationship Dysfunction
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.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  First-time, English-speaking mothers of healthy singleton newborns

 -  Positive screen (> 10) on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Suicidal ideation

 -  Currently receiving depression treatment

 -  Meets criteria for bipolar disorder and/or lifetime or current psychotic disorder