HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in BJP Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MURRAY, L. Articles by ROMANIUK, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MURRAY, L. Articles by ROMANIUK, H.

Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression

2. Impact on the mother—child relationship and child outcome

Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, The University of Reading, Reading

ANJI WILSON, PhD

Centre for Family Research, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Cambridge University

HELENA ROMANIUK, PhD

Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Reading, UK

Correspondence: Professor Lynne Murray, Winnicott Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, 3 Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6AL, UK

Declaration of interest None.

Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

See part 1 pp. 412–419, this issue.

Background Postnatal depression is associated with adverse child cognitive and socio-emotional outcome. It is not known whether psychological treatment affects the quality of the mother—child relationship and child outcome.

Aims To evaluate the effect of three psychological treatments on the mother—child relationship and child outcome.

Method Women with post-partum depression (n=193) were assigned randomly to routine primary care, non-directive counselling, cognitive—behavioural therapy or psychodynamic therapy. The women and their children were assessed at 4.5, 18 and 60 months post-partum.

Results Indications of a positive benefit were limited. All three treatments had a significant benefit on maternal reports of early difficulties in relationships with the infants; counselling gave better infant emotional and behaviour ratings at 18 months and more sensitive early mother—infant interactions. The treatments had no significant impact on maternal management of early infant behaviour problems, security of infant—mother attachment, infant cognitive development or any child outcome at 5 years.

Conclusions Early intervention was of short-term benefit to the mother—child relationship and infant behaviour problems. More-prolonged intervention may be needed. Health visitors could deliver this.

Related articles in BJP:

Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression: 1. Impact on maternal mood

PETER J. COOPER, LYNNE MURRAY, ANJI WILSON, and HELENA ROMANIUK
BJP 2003 182: 412-419. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. S. POOBALAN, L. S. AUCOTT, L. ROSS, W. CAIRNS. S. SMITH, P. J. HELMS, and J. H. G. WILLIAMS Effects of treating postnatal depression on mother infant interaction and child development: Systematic review The British Journal of Psychiatry, November 1, 2007; 191(5): 378 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Stein, H. Woolley, R. Senior, L. Hertzmann, M. Lovel, J. Lee, S. Cooper, R. Wheatcroft, F. Challacombe, P. Patel, et al. Treating Disturbances in the Relationship Between Mothers With Bulimic Eating Disorders and Their Infants: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Video Feedback Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 163(5): 899 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. TYRER The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2005; 187(4): 394 - 394. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Beard, M. K. Hendricks, E. M. Perez, L. E. Murray-Kolb, A. Berg, L. Vernon-Feagans, J. Irlam, W. Isaacs, A. Sive, and M. Tomlinson Maternal Iron Deficiency Anemia Affects Postpartum Emotions and Cognition J. Nutr., February 1, 2005; 135(2): 267 - 272. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				OTHER ARTICLES NOTED (25 Apr 2003 to 18 Jul 2003) Evid. Based Nurs., October 1, 2003; 6(4): e1 - 12. [Full Text]

				Psychological Intervention for Postnatal Depression: Depressing Outcomes? Journal Watch Psychiatry, September 3, 2003; 2003(903): 7 - 7. [Full Text]

				Psychological Intervention for Postnatal Depression: Depressing Outcomes? Journal Watch Women's Health, July 22, 2003; 2003(722): 9 - 9. [Full Text]

				P. J. COOPER, L. MURRAY, A. WILSON, and H. ROMANIUK Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression: 1. Impact on maternal mood The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2003; 182(5): 412 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]