Mother–infant interaction in women with depression in pregnancy and in women with a history of depression: the Psychiatry Research and Motherhood – Depression (PRAM-D) study. Issue 3 (25th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bind, Rebecca H.; Biaggi, Alessandra; Bairead, Aoife; Du Preez, Andrea; Hazelgrove, Katie; Waites, Freddie; Conroy, Susan; Dazzan, Paola; Osborne, Sarah; Pawlby, Susan; Sethna, Vaheshta; Pariante, Carmine M.
• Is Part Of: BJPsych open. Volume 7:Issue 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05-25
• Subjects: Perinatal psychiatry, -- depressive disorders, -- developmental disorders, -- psychosocial interventions, -- childhood experience; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.52
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4724

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Little is known about the effects of depression before birth on the quality of the mother–infant interaction. Aims: To understand whether depression, either in pregnancy or in lifetime before pregnancy, disrupts postnatal mother–infant interactions. Method: We recruited 131 pregnant women (51 healthy, 52 with major depressive disorder (MDD) in pregnancy, 28 with a history of MDD but healthy pregnancy), at 25 weeks' gestation. MDD was confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders. Neonatal behaviour was assessed at 6 days with the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale, and mother–infant interaction was assessed at 8 weeks and 12 months with the Crittenden CARE-Index. Results: At 8 weeks and 12 months, dyads in the depression and history-only groups displayed a reduced quality of interaction compared with healthy dyads. Specifically, at 8 weeks, 62% in the depression group and 56% in the history-only group scored in the lowest category of dyadic synchrony (suggesting therapeutic interventions are needed), compared with 37% in the healthy group ( P = 0.041); 48% and 32%, respectively, scored the same at 12 months, compared with 14% in the healthy group ( P = 0.003). At 6 days, neonates in the depression and history-only groups exhibited decreased social-interactive behaviour, which, together with maternal socioeconomic difficulties, was also predictive of interaction quality, whereas postnatal depression was not. Conclusions: Both antenatal depression and a lifetime history of depression are associated with a decreased quality of mother–infant interaction, irrespective of postnatal depression. Clinicians should be aware of this, as pregnancy provides an opportunity for identification and intervention to support the developing relationship.