Psychotherapy groups and individual support to enhance mental health and early dyadic interaction among drug-abusing mothers

• Published in: Infant mental health journal 2012-09, Vol.33 (5), p.520-534
• Main Authors: Belt, Ritva H., Flykt, Marjo, Punamäki, Raija-Leena, Pajulo, Marjukka, Posa, Tiina, Tamminen, Tuula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0163-9641; 1097-0355
• DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21348

The purpose of this controlled study was to examine the outcome of psychodynamic mother–infant group psychotherapy (PGT) outpatient intervention for drug‐abusing perinatal mother–infant dyads. PGT comprised 20 to 24 weekly 3‐hr sessions with 3 to 5 months of follow‐up. A comparison intervention group was formed of mothers participating in individually tailored psychosocial support (PSS) lasting, on average, 12 months and providing mother–infant support and practical counseling. We hypothesized that positive changes would occur in maternal drug abuse, mental health, and mother–infant interaction, especially in the PGT group due to its more intensive therapeutic focus. Participants were 26 drug‐abusing dyads in PGT, 25 in PSS, and 50 dyads in a non‐drug‐abusing comparison group. Assessments were pre‐intervention and at 4 and 12 months' follow‐up, including maternal depressive symptoms and mother–child interaction assessed by the Emotional Availability Scales (EA). As hypothesized, in dyadic interaction maternal hostility decreased significantly in the PGT group, and intrusiveness decreased in both intervention groups, but especially in the PTG group. However, both interventions showed a general improvement in the quality of mother–infant interaction. They also succeeded in sustaining high maternal abstinence, treatment retention, and alleviating depressive symptoms. The findings are discussed in relation to preventing negative transgenerational interaction patterns in the high‐risk dyads. El propósito de este controlado estudio fue examinar el resultado de una intervención con pacientes no hospitalizados de una sicoterapia (PGT) de un grupo sicodinámico de madres‐infantes con respecto al abuso perinatal de drogas en las díadas de madres e infantes. Se estableció un grupo de comparación en la intervención, formado de madres que participaban en un apoyo sicosocial diseñado individualmente (PSS), que duraba un promedio de 12 meses y que proveía apoyo y consejería práctica a las madres e infantes. Nuestra hipótesis fue que positivos cambios ocurrirían en el caso de abuso maternal de drogas, en la interacción de salud mental y de madre e infante, especialmente en el grupo PGT, debido a su más intensivo enfoque terapéutico. Los participantes fueron 26 díadas que habían abusado de drogas en el grupo PGT, 25 en el grupo PSS, y 50 díadas en el grupo de comparación que no había abusado de drogas. Las evaluaciones fueron llevadas a cabo antes de la intervención y a los