The impact of a brief parent-infant psychotherapy for motherhood representation in the context of depression

Abstract

The present study investigated the changes in the representations concerning motherhood in a mother with depression indicators, during a brief parent-infant psychotherapy brief parent-baby. A single-case study design was used, and the maternal representations were examined at three moments: before, during and after the psychotherapy. The reports were analyzed starting from four interpretative axes that were based on Stern’s (1997) motherhood constallation: life-growth; primary relationship; support matrix; and reorganization of identity. The results revealed that the changes in mother’s representations concerning the relationship with her own mother played a central part in the working through schemes regarding herself, the baby and the marital relationship. The effectiveness of the use of motherhood constallation themes as interpretative axes in the evaluation of parent-infant psychotherapeutic process is emphasized.