title: Effects of maternal depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and the postpartum period on infant-mother attachment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postnatal depression has demonstrated long-term consequences on child cognitive and emotional development; however, the link between maternal and child pathology has not been clearly identified. We conducted a prospective study using self-rating questionnaires to clarify the association between bonding disorder and maternal mood during pregnancy and after childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 389 women participated in this study and completed questionnaires. Participants were asked to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale four times during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found statistically significant weak to moderate correlations (r = 0.14-0.39) between the EPDS and Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale scores at each testing period. Women who experienced low mood tended to have stronger bonding disorder. Furthermore, the effectiveness of attachment between the mother and child was closely related to the mood of the mother as measured by the EPDS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed different patterns of bonding and maternal mood. Distinct subtypes regarding maternal mood and formation of mother-to-infant attachment suggests that analysis of bonding disorder should be performed considering the course of maternal depressive symptoms.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Harue
authors: H
authors: Ohoka
authors: Takayoshi
authors: T
authors: Koide
authors: Setsuko
authors: S
authors: Goto
authors: Satomi
authors: S
authors: Murase
authors: Atsuko
authors: A
authors: Kanai
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Masuda
authors: Branko
authors: B
authors: Aleksic
authors: Naoko
authors: N
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Furumura
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Ozaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale; bonding disorder; maternal mood; post-partum period