Perinatal Depression and Mother-Infant Interventions: A Literature Review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Perinatal Depression and Mother-Infant Interventions: A Literature Review

AU - Rebecchini, Lavinia

AU - Bind, Rebecca

AU - Pariante, Carmine

PY - 2022/3/16

Y1 - 2022/3/16

N2 - Perinatal depression can have deleterious effects on the formation of the relationship between mother and infant: evidence shows that it threatens not only the mental, but also the physical health of the mother; the physical and psychological development of the baby; and it can have a profound impact on the care that the baby receives and on the future relationships that the baby will form. As babies learn from the outside in, through the mind of another person, they learn how to behave from the responses of their environment. In the context of perinatal depression, which often combines elevated stress levels with low emotional arousal, it can be difficult for a mother to recognise and perceive her own and her infant’s emotions, needs and desires in order to appropriately interact with their infant. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview on previous literature reviewing research on perinatal depression and its impact on the mother-infant interaction, with a particular focus on current dyadic interventions for the enhancement of their relationship. Given the prevalence of perinatal depression and the adverse effects this disorder has on women and their children, the identification of effective treatments, which include both the mother and baby, has important implications.

AB - Perinatal depression can have deleterious effects on the formation of the relationship between mother and infant: evidence shows that it threatens not only the mental, but also the physical health of the mother; the physical and psychological development of the baby; and it can have a profound impact on the care that the baby receives and on the future relationships that the baby will form. As babies learn from the outside in, through the mind of another person, they learn how to behave from the responses of their environment. In the context of perinatal depression, which often combines elevated stress levels with low emotional arousal, it can be difficult for a mother to recognise and perceive her own and her infant’s emotions, needs and desires in order to appropriately interact with their infant. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview on previous literature reviewing research on perinatal depression and its impact on the mother-infant interaction, with a particular focus on current dyadic interventions for the enhancement of their relationship. Given the prevalence of perinatal depression and the adverse effects this disorder has on women and their children, the identification of effective treatments, which include both the mother and baby, has important implications.

KW - Perinatal Depression

KW - Mother-infant interaction

KW - interventions

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-91832-3_24

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-91832-3_24

M3 - Chapter

SN - 978-3-030-91831-6

SP - 359

EP - 373

BT - Key Topics in Perinatal Mental Health.

A2 - Percudani, M.

A2 - Bramante, A.

A2 - Brenna, V.

A2 - Pariante, C.

PB - Springer, Cham

ER -