Behavioral, interactional and developmental symptomatology in toddlers of depressed mothers: a preliminary clinical study within the DC:0-3 framework.
Relations between maternal depression and infant behavior, attachment and development were examined within a clinical diagnostic framework. The sample consisted of a study group of 15 infants and their mothers with depression compared to a group of 16 infants and their mothers with no diagnosable psychiatric disorders. The study group scored lower on expressive (p < .03), receptive (p < .05) and overall communication (p < .03) and coping skills (p < .03) of the Vineland and total scales (p < .05) of both developmental measures and higher on psychosocial stressor severity assessments (p < .01). More mother-infant dyads in the study group presented with relationship disorders (p < .01) with considerably lower PIR-GAS (global assessment scale for parent-infant relationship) scores (p < .001). Infants of depressed mothers were also significantly more likely to show problematic attachment behavior to their mothers (p < .01). As a factor leading to the increased risk of childhood developmental problems and psychopathology, maternal depression requires special attention during clinical assessment of infants and toddlers.
Oztop
Didem
D
Department of Child Psychiatry, Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Uslu
Runa
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*