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.