Parenting the parent without losing sight of the child. A qualitative study of therapists' experiences with intergenerational adversities in perinatal psychotherapy.

The complex work of addressing intergenerational adversities, like violence, abuse, and neglect through perinatal psychotherapy, is understudied. Especially noticeable is the paucity of studies giving voice to the therapists. This study explored therapeutic processes through the perspectives of seven Norwegian therapists. A qualitative approach was chosen with individual interviews and a follow-up focus group. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. We identified one overarching theme: To maintain a reflective therapeutic capacity, and two main themes with associated subthemes: 1) Alliance work when a caring system comes to therapy to fight generations of adversities and 2) The complex therapeutic work of addressing generational adversities in perinatal psychotherapy. Findings from the present study indicate that maintaining a reflective stance is essential yet challenging when addressing intergenerational adversities, requiring a holding environment for the therapists. The primary vehicle of change was perceived as a safe enough therapeutic alliance to explore new ways of being together, contrasting earlier experiences. A key question raised was how to give caregivers enough time to trust the therapist without compromising the safety and development of the child. The essence of the therapeutic work was to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors through multiple ports of entry.

El complejo trabajo de abordar el tema de adversidades intergeneracionales, como violencia, abuso y negligencia a través de la sicoterapia perinatal, no se ha estudiado lo suficiente. Especialmente perceptible es la escasez de estudios que les den voz a los terapeutas. Este estudio exploró los procesos terapéuticos a través de perspectivas de siete terapeutas noruegos. Se escogió un acercamiento cualitativo con entrevistas individuales y un grupo de enfoque como seguimiento. Se analizaron los datos usando un análisis temático reflexivo. Identificamos un tema global: Mantener una capacidad terapéutica reflexiva, así como dos temas principales con subtemas asociados: 1) Trabajo en alianza cuando un sistema de cuidados llega a la terapia, para combatir generaciones de adversidades y 2) El complejo trabajo terapéutico de abordar el tema de adversidades generacionales en la sicoterapia perinatal. Los resultados del presente estudio indicaron que mantener una postura de reflexión es esencial, aunque desafiante, cuando se aborda el tema de adversidades generacionales, lo cual requiere un entorno o espacio favorable para los terapeutas. La percepción es que el vehículo primario para el cambio es una suficientemente segura alianza terapéutica para explorar nuevas maneras de vivir juntos, contrastando las experiencias anteriores. Una pregunta clave que se planteó fue cómo darles a los cuidadores suficiente tiempo para que le tengan confianza al terapeuta sin comprometer la seguridad y el desarrollo del niño. La esencia del trabajo terapéutico fue reducir los factores de riesgo e incrementar los factores de protección por medio de múltiples puertas de entrada.

Le travail complexe qui consiste à s'attaquer aux adversités intergénérationnelles comme la violence, la maltraitance et la négligence au travers de la psychothérapie périnatale est sous-étudié. On constate surtout la rareté d'études donnant la parole aux thérapeutes. Cette étude a exploré les processus thérapeutiques au travers des perspectives de sept thérapeutes norvégiens. Une approche qualitative a été choisie avec des entretiens individuels et un groupe d'étude de suivi. Des données ont été analysées en utilisant une analyse réflective thématique. Nous avons identifié un thème général: maintenir une capacité thérapeutique réflective et deux thèmes principaux avec des sous-thèmes liés: 1) le travail d'alliance quand un système attentif en arrive à la thérapie pour contrecarrer des générations d'adversités et 2) le travail thérapeutique complexe qui consiste à s'attaquer aux adversités intergénérationnelles en psychothérapie périnatale. Les résultats de cette étude ont indiqué que le maintien d'une position de réflexion est essentiel mais pose également un défi lorsqu'on on s'attaque aux adversités intergénérationnelles, exigeant un environnement thérapeutique soutenant pour les thérapeutes. Le principal véhicule de changement a été perçu comme une alliance thérapeutique étant assez sûre pour l'exploration de nouvelles façons d'être ensemble, en contraste avec des expériences précédentes. Une question clé qui a été soulevée était de comment donner aux personnes prenant soin des enfants assez de temps pour avoir confiance au thérapeute sans compromettre la sécurité et le développement de l'enfant. L'essence du travail thérapeutique a consisté à réduire les facteurs de risque et à accroître les facteurs protecteurs au travers de plusieurs ports d'entrée.

Bipolar offspring and mothers: interactional challenges at infant age 3 and 12 months-a developmental pathway to enhanced risk?

BACKGROUND: Bipolar offspring are considered a high-risk group for developing mental disorders. Developmental outcomes result from additive and interactive effects of biological vulnerability and environmental influences. Mother-infant interactions represent important early environmental influences that may modify infants' risk of mental disorders. The aim of the current prospective study was to investigate the patterns and development of mother-infant interactions in the first year of life in dyads in which the mothers have bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Twenty-six dyads in which the mothers had BD and 28 dyads in which the mothers had no mental disorder were video-taped in a free play interaction. The Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA) was used to assess the quality of the interactions on three domains (maternal behaviour, infant behaviour and dyadic coordination) at 3 and 12 months of infant age. First, we compared the mother-infant interaction patterns between the two groups at 12 months. Second, we investigated how the patterns developed within and between the groups from infant ages 3 to 12 months. RESULTS: BD dyads demonstrated significantly more challenges in all three interaction domains at infant age 12 months compared to the healthy dyads. This observation was in line with the findings at infant age 3 months. Subdued expression of positive affect and mutual underinvolvement represented core challenges in maternal and infant behaviours in the BD dyads. Continuous difficulties with dyadic coordination and reciprocity were the most concerning interaction behaviours at 3 and 12 months. On the positive side, there was little expression of negative affect or tension in maternal, infant and dyadic behaviour, and some positive changes in infant behaviour from 3 to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that challenges in mother-infant interaction patterns in the first year of life may enhance the developmental risk for bipolar offspring. Clinical interventions should address both the BD mothers' needs in relation to postpartum mood deviations and mother-infant interactions. We suggest interaction interventions to promote dyadic coordination and reciprocity, such as helping mothers being more sensitive to their infant's cues and to provide attuned contingent responses.

Mothers with and without bipolar disorder and their infants: group differences in mother-infant interaction patterns at three months postpartum.

BACKGROUND: Women with bipolar disorder (BD) have a high risk of illness relapse postpartum. The risk coincides with the period when mother-infant interactions are evolving. We compared mother-infant interactions in dyads where the mothers have BD with dyads where the mothers have no mental disorder. The association between concurrent affective symptoms of BD mothers and interaction quality was investigated. METHODS: Twenty-six women with BD and 30 comparison women with infants were included. The Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA) was used to assess maternal behaviour, infant behaviour and dyadic coordination in interactions at 3 months postpartum. The Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology and Young Mania Rating Scale were used to assess affective symptoms of BD mothers at the time of interaction. RESULTS: There were significant group differences with medium to large effect sizes (0.73-1.32) on five of six subscales within the three interactional domains. Most interactional concerns were identified in dyadic coordination. No significant associations were found between maternal symptom load and interaction quality within the BD sample. Forty-six percent of the BD mothers experienced a mood episode within 0-3 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified challenges for mothers with BD and their infants in "finding" each other in interaction at 3 months postpartum. If sustained, this interaction pattern may have a long-term impact on children's development. We suggest interventions specifically focusing on sensitising and supporting mothers to read infants' cues on a micro-level. This may help them to respond contingently and improve dyadic coordination and synchronicity.

"What if I get ill?" perinatal concerns and preparations in primi- and multiparous women with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Women with bipolar disorder have a high risk of illness relapse postpartum, including psychosis. The aim of the study was to explore how perinatal women with bipolar disorder relate to the risk. What are their concerns? How do they prepare for the dual demands of mood episodes and motherhood? METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted. To ensure rich insight into the research questions, 13 primiparous and 13 multiparous women with bipolar disorder (I or II), were individually interviewed in pregnancy or early postpartum. Thematic analysis was applied. RESULTS: Across parity, concerns for illness relapse included concerns for depression and psychosis. Primiparous women worried about "the unknown" in relation to postpartum reactions. Overall, the most significant concerns were the impact of mood episodes on mothering and on the partner. Concerns regarding the infant were maternal medication, mood episodes affecting the child, and heredity. Resources and preparations included: support from the partner, the family, and health services; adjustment of daily life; and mental strategies. Women were aware of the postpartum risk, but their levels of personal concern varied between low, moderate and high. Women with low level of concern for illness relapse had made the least deliberations and preparations. A subgroup of women with high level of concern also had limited resources and preparations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of including a psychological and psychosocial focus in perinatal prevention planning and counselling. Even if women with BD are informed about the increased risk of illness relapse postpartum, they relate to it differently. Their level of personal concern impacts their perinatal deliberations and preparations, which in turn may impact postpartum adjustment. When counselling these women, it is important to assess their personal risk recognition, perinatal concerns and available resources and preparations, and support them accordingly. Extra attention should be given to women with a low level of concern, and women with a high level of concern who have limited resources and preparations. These women represent particularly vulnerable subgroups that are critical to identify and offer comprehensive follow-up.