ABSTRACT
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed based on socio-communicative difficulties, which are believed to result from deficits in mentalizing, mainly evidenced by alterations in recognizing and responding to the mental states of others. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop mentalization-based treatment (MBT) models for this population. These models focus on enhancing individuals' ability to understand and reflect on their own mental states, as well as those of others. However, MBT approaches for people with ASD are limited by their existing theoretical background, which lacks a strong foundation grounded in neuroscience-based evidence properly integrated with attachment, and mentalizing. These are crucial aspects for understanding psychological processes in autism, and as such, they play a pivotal role in shaping the development of tailored and effective therapeutic strategies for this specific population. In this paper we review evidence related to the neurobiological, interpersonal, and psychological dimensions of autism and their implications for mentalizing processes. We also review previous mentalization-based frameworks on the psychosis continuum to provide a comprehensive understanding of attachment, neurobiology, and mentalization domains in therapeutic approaches for autism. After presenting a synthesis of the literature, we offer a set of clinical strategies for the work with children with autism. Finally, we provide recommendations to advance the field towards more robust models that can serve as a basis for evidence-based therapeutic strategies.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Maternal sensitivity and mentalization are fundamental for children's mental health development. These skills have been negatively associated with maternal postpartum depressive symptomatology. Moreover, its prevalence increases in low socioeconomic and psychosocial risk contexts, where the access to treatment is scarce. Even though Attachment Based Interventios, such as Video-Feedback has been internationally recognized as an effective intervention. Its cost, as well as the need for language translation and cultural adaptation makes it difficult to implement in Latinamerican countries. Aim: The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online Video-Feedback intervention informed n mentalization aimed at mother-infant dyads with depressive symptomatology who attend Chilean public health centers. Method: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with two groups of 60 mother-infant dyads between 4 and 12 months of age. Participants will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Even though both groups will receive usual treatment, the experimental group will also receive the present video-intervention. At the end of the study, feasibility will be assessed based on focus groups aimed at interveners and quantitative outcomes such as recruitment rate, questionnaire completion rate and intervention completeness. Acceptability will be assessed from in-depth interviews with participants. In addition, effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes will be calculated. Expected results: Results are expected to generate parameters to design a larger-scale clinical trial and to preliminary assess the effect of the reported mentalization-informed intervention on maternal sensitivity. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with a mental health intervention for low-income mother-infant dyads, which can be implemented remotely, at a low cost, and that would be suitable for implementation at a mental health care system policy. The protocol of this trial's design was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT04748731).
Introducción: La sensibilidad y la mentalización materna constituyen competencias fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud mental infantil. A su vez, dichas habilidades han sido negativamente asociadas con la presencia de sintomatología depresiva postparto, la cual aumenta su prevalencia en contextos de bajo nivel socioeconómico y riesgo psicosocial, en donde el acceso a tratamiento escasea. Paralelamente, si bien internacionalmente el video-retroalimentación constituye una herramienta efectiva en intervenciones basadas en el apego, el costo, idioma y necesidad de adaptación cultural dificultan su implementación en países latinoamericanos. Objetivo: Evaluar la factibilidad y aceptabilidad de una video-intervención informada por la mentalización, dirigida a díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva, atendidas en centros públicos de atención en salud mental en Chile. Métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorio piloto con dos grupos de 60 díadas madre-bebé de entre 4 y 12 meses de edad, quienes serán asignados aleatoriamente a grupos control y experimental en una proporción de 1:1. Si bien ambos grupos recibirán el tratamiento habitual, el grupo experimental recibirá también la video-intervención. Al término del estudio se evaluará la factibilidad a partir de grupos focales dirigidos a interventores e indicadores de resultados cuantitativos tales como tasa de reclutamiento, de completación de cuestionarios y finalización de la intervención. La aceptabilidad se evaluará a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a las participantes. Adicionalmente se calculará tamaño del efecto de indicadores de resultados primarios y secundarios. Resultados esperados: Se espera que los resultados del estudio generen parámetros para diseñar un ensayo clínico de mayor escala y evaluar preliminarmente el efecto de la intervención informada en la mentalización en la sensibilidad materna. Se busca además contribuir con una intervención en salud mental basada en la teoría del apego dirigida a díadas madre-bebé de bajos ingresos, que pueda ser implementada de manera remota, a bajo costo y apta para ser escalada a los sistemas de atención en salud mental.
Subject(s)
Depression , Mothers , Female , Humans , Infant , Depression/therapy , Feasibility Studies , Feedback , Mental Health , Mothers/psychology , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Maternal sensitivity and mentalization are fundamental for children's mental health development. These skills have been negatively associated with maternal postpartum depressive symptomatology. Moreover, its prevalence increases in low socioeconomic and psychosocial risk contexts, where the access to treatment is scarce. Even though Attachment Based Interventios, such as Video-Feedback has been internationally recognized as an effective intervention. Its cost, as well as the need for language translation and cultural adaptation makes it difficult to implement in Latinamerican countries. AIM: The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online Video-Feedback intervention informed n mentalization aimed at mother-infant dyads with depressive symptomatology who attend Chilean public health centers. METHOD: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with two groups of 60 mother-infant dyads between 4 and 12 months of age. Participants will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Even though both groups will receive usual treatment, the experimental group will also receive the present video-intervention. At the end of the study, feasibility will be assessed based on focus groups aimed at interveners and quantitative outcomes such as recruitment rate, questionnaire completion rate and intervention completeness. Acceptability will be assessed from in-depth interviews with participants. In addition, effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes will be calculated. EXPECTED RESULTS: Results are expected to generate parameters to design a larger-scale clinical trial and to preliminary assess the effect of the reported mentalization-informed intervention on maternal sensitivity. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with a mental health intervention for low-income mother-infant dyads, which can be implemented remotely, at a low cost, and that would be suitable for implementation at a mental health care system policy. The protocol of this trial's design was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT04748731).
INTRODUCCIÓN: La sensibilidad y la mentalización materna constituyen competencias fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud mental infantil. A su vez, dichas habilidades han sido negativamente asociadas con la presencia de sintomatología depresiva postparto, la cual aumenta su prevalencia en contextos de bajo nivel socioeconómico y riesgo psicosocial, en donde el acceso a tratamiento escasea. Paralelamente, si bien internacionalmente el video-retroalimentación constituye una herramienta efectiva en intervenciones basadas en el apego, el costo, idioma y necesidad de adaptación cultural dificultan su implementación en países latinoamericanos. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la factibilidad y aceptabilidad de una video-intervención informada por la mentalización, dirigida a díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva, atendidas en centros públicos de atención en salud mental en Chile. MÉTODOS: Ensayo clínico aleatorio piloto con dos grupos de 60 díadas madre-bebé de entre 4 y 12 meses de edad, quienes serán asignados aleatoriamente a grupos control y experimental en una proporción de 1:1. Si bien ambos grupos recibirán el tratamiento habitual, el grupo experimental recibirá también la video-intervención. Al término del estudio se evaluará la factibilidad a partir de grupos focales dirigidos a interventores e indicadores de resultados cuantitativos tales como tasa de reclutamiento, de completación de cuestionarios y finalización de la intervención. La aceptabilidad se evaluará a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a las participantes. Adicionalmente se calculará tamaño del efecto de indicadores de resultados primarios y secundarios. RESULTADOS ESPERADOS: Se espera que los resultados del estudio generen parámetros para diseñar un ensayo clínico de mayor escala y evaluar preliminarmente el efecto de la intervención informada en la mentalización en la sensibilidad materna. Se busca además contribuir con una intervención en salud mental basada en la teoría del apego dirigida a díadas madre-bebé de bajos ingresos, que pueda ser implementada de manera remota, a bajo costo y apta para ser escalada a los sistemas de atención en salud mental.