title: A randomized controlled trial of a home-visiting intervention aimed at preventing relationship problems in depressed mothers and their infants.
abstract: This study examined the effect of a mother-baby intervention on the quality of mother-child interaction, infant-mother attachment security, and infant socioemotional functioning in a group of depressed mothers with infants aged 1-12 months. A randomized controlled trial compared an experimental group (n = 35) receiving the intervention (8-10 home visits) with a control group (n = 36) receiving parenting support by telephone. There were assessments pre, post, and follow-up after 6 months. The intervention had positive effects on the quality of mother-infant interaction. Infants in the experimental group had higher scores for attachment security and for one aspect of socioemotional functioning, namely, competence. The intervention proved successful in preventing deterioration of the quality of mother-child interaction.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Centre, Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. k.vandoesum@riagg.ijsselland.nl
authors.forename: Karin T M
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: van Doesum
authors.forename: J Marianne
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Riksen-Walraven
authors.forename: Clemens M H
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hosman
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoefnagels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009769:Object Attachment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015397:Program Evaluation; D002666:Psychology, Child; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014743:Videotape Recording