Improving mother-infant bonding in postnatal depression − The SURE MUMS study

Loh, Abigail Hong Yan; Ong, Li; Yong, Flora Su Hui; Chen, Helen Yu

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103457

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…However, studies have been conducted to establish whether improving mother-infant bonding can also improve mental health difficulties. Loh et al [ 56 ] undertook an observational study of the effectiveness of the Sure Mums intervention which aims to improve mother-infant bonding. In a sample of 25 mothers, self-reported scores on the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire [ 57 ], Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [ 58 ] and Global Assessment of Functioning [ 59 ] all significantly improved post-intervention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with suicidal mothers during the perinatal period: a reflexive thematic analysis study with mental health professionals

Reid,

Edge,

Pratt

et al. 2024

BMC Psychiatry

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Background Suicide is the leading cause of death in mothers postpartum and one of the most common causes of death during pregnancy. Mental health professionals who work in perinatal services can offer insights into the factors they perceive as being linked to mothers’ suicidal ideation and behaviour, support offered to mothers and improvements to current practices. We aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of perinatal mental health professionals who have worked with suicidal mothers during the perinatal period. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone with mental health professionals working in perinatal mental health inpatient or community services across England. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results From the professionals’ (n = 15) accounts three main themes were developed from their interview data. The first, factors linked to suicidal ideation and behaviour, overarched two sub-themes: (1.1) the mother’s context and (1.2) what the baby represents and what this means for the mother. These sub-themes described factors that professionals assessed or deemed contributory in relation to suicidal ideation and behaviour when a mother was under their care. The second main theme, communicating about and identifying suicidal ideation and behaviour, which outlined how professionals enquired about, and perceived, different suicidal experiences, encapsulated two sub-themes: (2.1) how to talk about suicide and (2.2) types of suicidal ideation and attempts. The third main theme, reducing suicidal ideation through changing how a mother views her baby and herself, focused on how professionals supported mothers to reframe the ways in which they viewed their babies and in turn themselves to reduce suicidal ideation. Conclusion Professionals highlighted many factors that should be considered when responding to a mother’s risk of suicide during the perinatal period, such as the support around her, whether the pregnancy was planned and what the baby represented for the mother. Professionals’ narratives stressed the importance of adopting a tailored approach to discussing suicidal experiences with mothers to encourage disclosure. Our findings also identified psychological factors that professionals perceived as being linked to suicidal outcomes for mothers, such as self-efficacy; these factors should be investigated further.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with suicidal mothers during the perinatal period: a reflexive thematic analysis study with mental health professionals

Reid,

Edge,

Pratt

et al. 2024

BMC Psychiatry

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“…Improvement in the mother-infant interaction is thought to promote maternal mental health. [85][86][87] Dyad interventions were tested in 3 RCTs including 1 secondary prevention and 2 tertiary preventions. [88][89][90] Study quality scores were Good (23)(24)(25)(26).…”

Section: Mother-infant-focused Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Childbirth

Dekel,

Papadakis,

Quagliarini

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Structured AbstractObjectivePostpartum women can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to complicated, traumatic childbirth; prevalence of these events remains high in the U.S. Currently, there is no recommended treatment approach in routine peripartum care for preventing maternal childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD) and lessening its severity. Here, we provide a systematic review of available clinical trials testing interventions for the prevention and indication of CB-PTSD.Data SourcesWe conducted a systematic review of PsycInfo, PsycArticles, PubMed (MEDLINE), ClinicalTrials.gov, CINAHL, ProQuest, Sociological Abstracts, Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus through December 2022 to identify clinical trials involving CB-PTSD prevention and treatment.Study Eligibility CriteriaTrials were included if they were interventional, evaluated CB-PTSD preventive strategies or treatments, and reported outcomes assessing CB-PTSD symptoms. Duplicate studies, case reports, protocols, active clinical trials, and studies of CB-PTSD following stillbirth were excluded.Study Appraisal and Synthesis MethodsTwo independent coders evaluated trials using a modified Downs and Black methodological quality assessment checklist. Sample characteristics and related intervention information were extracted via an Excel-based form.ResultsA total of 33 studies, including 25 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 8 non-RCTs, were included. Trial quality ranged from Poor to Excellent. Trials tested psychological therapies most often delivered as secondary prevention against CB-PTSD onset (n=21); some examined primary (n=3) and tertiary (n=9) therapies. Positive treatment effects were found for early interventions employing conventional trauma-focused therapies, psychological counseling, and mother-infant dyadic focused strategies. Therapies’ utility to aid women with severe acute traumatic stress symptoms or reduce incidence of CB-PTSD diagnosis is unclear, as is whether they are effective as tertiary intervention. Educational birth plan-focused interventions during pregnancy may improve maternal health outcomes, but studies remain scarce.ConclusionsAn array of early psychological therapies delivered in response to traumatic childbirth, rather than universally, in the first postpartum days and weeks, may potentially buffer CB-PTSD development. Rather than one treatment being suitable for all, effective therapy should consider individual-specific factors. As additional RCTs generate critical information and guide recommendations for first-line preventive treatments for CB-PTSD, the psychiatric consequences associated with traumatic childbirth could be lessened.Disclosure StatementThe authors report no conflict of interest.Financial Support and Roles of Funding SourcesDr. Sharon Dekel was supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD108619, R21HD100817, and R21HD109546) and an ISF award from the Massachusetts General Hospital Executive Committee on Research. Dr. Kathleen Jagodnik was supported by a Mortimer B. Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program Postdoctoral Fellowship. Ms. Joanna Papadakis was supported by a grant through the Menschel Cornell Commitment Public Service Internship at Cornell University. None of the funding organizations had a role in designing, conducting, or reporting this work.Information for Systematic Review∼ (i)Date of PROSPERO Registration: 07-12-2021∼ (ii)Registration Number: CRD42020207086

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“…Recent studies have indicated, however, that psychosocial education or behavioral intervention may not be effective in reducing mother–infant bonding disorders in women with PMAD conditions. Therefore, there is no opportunity to fully estimate effect sizes, making them unsuitable for valid statistical analysis [ 22 – 24 ]. There are limited empirical studies to support the claim that prenatal mindfulness-based interventions mitigate the quality of mother-infant bonding in the postpartum period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a prenatal mindfulness program on longitudinal changes in stress, anxiety, depression, and mother–infant bonding of women with a tendency to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Pan,

Lin,

Kuo

et al. 2023

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Background Stress is a risk factor for poor physical and mental health, affecting new mothers’ ability, especially those with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, to maintain their everyday lives. Over the past 50 years, global incidences of depression and anxiety disorders have increased, reaching pandemic levels. These incidences represent major public health issues that are challenging to detect and treat. Mindfulness programs are viable for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The present study evaluates mindfulness intervention effects on stress, anxiety, depression, and mother–infant bonding. Methods We collected data on 102 women participating in a prenatal mindfulness program between July 2021 and March 2022; they were parallel and randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. The intervention group received an 8-week course in a prenatal mindfulness program, and the control group received usual standard prenatal care. The self-reported stress, pregnancy-related anxiety, and depression were assessed before and after the intervention and at 36 weeks of gestation. At 2 and 4 months postpartum, all participants provided self-reported their levels of stress, depression, and quality of mother-infant bonding. Results Compared to the control group, the experimental group that received the prenatal mindfulness intervention experienced reduced prenatal stress, anxiety, and depression and reduced postnatal stress and depression. Despite this, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the quality of mother-infant bonding. Conclusions Mindfulness prenatal programs are convenient and effective methods of decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression during the perinatal period. Based on our findings, prenatal mindfulness may play a role in mitigating mood and anxiety disorders and should be considered in future approaches to preventing psychological distress. Trial registration number This trial has been prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04693130) and the first registration date was 12/24/2020.

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Improving mother-infant bonding in postnatal depression − The SURE MUMS study

Cited by 8 publications

References 25 publications

Working with suicidal mothers during the perinatal period: a reflexive thematic analysis study with mental health professionals

Working with suicidal mothers during the perinatal period: a reflexive thematic analysis study with mental health professionals

A Systematic Review of Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Childbirth

Effects of a prenatal mindfulness program on longitudinal changes in stress, anxiety, depression, and mother–infant bonding of women with a tendency to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial

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