Vous consultezEtude comparative des interactions précoces des mères psychotiques et déprimées avec leur bébé

Jaqueline Wendland du même auteur

Marion Wolff du même auteur

Philippe Moisselin du même auteur

A comparative study of depressed vs psychotic mothers with their infants
While early mother-infant interactions in case of maternal depression have been extensively studied, much less is known about early interactions of psychotic mothers. Likewise, studies comparing early interactions involving different maternal mental disorders are scarce. This study assesses similarities and differences in mother-infant interactions between dyads whose mother is depressive or psychotic, in terms of behavioral synchrony, maternal sensitivity and interactive style. Eighteen mother-infant hospitalized dyads (10 with depressed mother and 8 with psychotic mother) were assessed. Interactions were recorded during the infant’s bath and analyzed through two complementary methods adapted to this study : a quantitative analysis (Belsky, Rovine and Taylor, 1984), and a qualitative one (Care Index, Crittenden, 1981). Maternal psychopathology, either depressive or psychotic, is associated with dysharmonious interactive styles. The main common characteristics are lack of attunement and scarcity of interactive exchanges. Maternal depression seems to have more influence on inter- action synchrony and on both partners’ withdrawal. Dyads of psychotic mothers show globally more interactions but these are not more attuned than those of depressed mothers. It emerges that, rather than the mother’s psychopathology, it is her interactive style which defines the infant’s one. The precocity of the infant’s reaction to maternal behavior highlights the need of early therapeutic intervention for these at risk dyads.

Keywords

early mother infant interactions, maternal depression, maternal psychosis