The positive impact of an intervention for maternal depression on child emotional and behavioral symptoms in a low-resource setting
Braz. J. Psychiatry (São Paulo, 1999, Impr.)
;
44(6): 590-601, Nov.-Dec. 2022. tab, graf
Article
in English
|
LILACS-Express
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1420529
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
Children of depressed mothers are at risk of developing mental health problems. We sought to determine whether treatment for maternal depression by community-based health workers would decrease behavioral/emotional symptoms in their children. Interventions for maternal depressive symptoms in a low/middle-income country can have a high global impact.Methods:
Community-based health workers were trained to deliver a psychosocial intervention for mothers with depression in a primary care setting. A total of 49 mothers and 60 children were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 6 months follow-up. Child behavioral/emotional symptoms were evaluated according to type of change in maternal depressive symptoms response or remission.Results:
An overall decrease in maternal depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention and 6 months follow-up were found. Response or remission was associated with better outcomes in child behavioral/emotional symptoms at 6 months follow-up (p = 0.0247, Cohen's d 0.76; p = 0.0224, Cohen's f 0.44) but not at post-intervention (p = 0.1636, Cohen's d 0.48; p = 0.0720, Cohen's f 0.33).Conclusions:
Improvement in maternal depression was related to decreased behavioral/emotional symptoms in their children. Our results suggest that providing interventions for maternal depression in primary care is a viable strategy to prevent behavioral/emotional symptoms in the next generation. Clinical Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trials, number RBR-5qhmb5.
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. J. Psychiatry (São Paulo, 1999, Impr.)
Journal subject:
Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute/US
/
Universidade Federal de São Paulo/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
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