Depressed Mother-Infant Interactions at 9 and 18 months after Birth

Many studies underline how Postnatal Depression (PND) has a negative influence on the interactive dialogue between mother and infant (Tronick et al., 1978, 1997, 2005; Murray et al., 1996; Murray and Cooper, 2003; Righetti-Veltema et al., 2002, 2003; Monti et al., 2004; Agostini et al., 2004). The aim of the study is to evaluate the early interactions between a depressed mother and her infant at 9 and 18 months after birth. A psychologist met 217 mother- infant dyads at home at 9 and 18 months after birth. The symptomatology of PND has been assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS; Cox et al., 1987; Benvenuti et al., 1999), and the videotaped interactive sequences analyzed by Bur Scale (Bur et al., 1989) and Guaraldi Scale (Guaraldi et al., 1985). At 9 months 10.6% showed depressive signs; at 18 months 8.9% was depressed (EPDS cut-off 12/13). The results of Bur Scale showed how, in the depressed mother-infant dyads, at 9 months corporal and vocal interactions were more pathologic compared to those of not depressed mother-infant dyads (p=0.014; p=0.001); at 18 months visual and gestural interactions were more pathologic (p=0.042; p=0.020). At 9 months visual exchanges were more altered in the depressed mother-infant dyads (p=0.01); at 18 months corporal exchanges were more altered (p=0.01). Guaraldi Scale showed, in the depressed mother-infant dyads, at 9 months fewer expressions of the depressed mother’s joy in interacting with infant (p=0.04) and infant bathing difficulties (p=0.03); at 18 months, an impoverished depressed mother-infant verbal relationship (p=0.04).