Health‐Led Interventions in the Early Years to Enhance Infant and Maternal Mental Health: A Review of Reviews

Abstract

Background: Increasing recognition of the importance of maternal mental health and early parenting in optimising the later mental health of the child has given rise to new ways of working during the perinatal period. Aims: The objective of this review is to identify effective health‐led interventions to support parents, parenting and the parent‐infant relationship during the perinatal period,1 and beyond. Method: A systematic search of key electronic databases was undertaken to identify secondary and primary sources of data addressing the research question. Twenty‐four reviews addressed the effectiveness of interventions delivered during the postnatal period in promoting closeness and sensitive parenting, infant sensory and perceptual capabilities, and positive parenting, and in addressing infant regulatory problems, maternal mental health problems, and parent‐infant relationship problems. Conclusions: A number of methods of working are recommended as part of a model of progressive‐universalism beginning ante‐natally and continuing through the first two post‐natal years, and beyond. The implications for universal, targeted and specialist healthcare services are explored, alongside the role and contribution of CAMHS practitioners.

Effectiveness of early-intervention programs in German-speaking countries – a meta-analysis

“…Furthermore, prevention programs were more effective when focusing on high risk groups instead of more universal approaches (Beelmann & Schmitt, 2012) which has been documented for early intervention programs as well (Shaw, Levitt, Wong, & Kaczorowski, 2006). International meta-analyses documented that parental competencies can be increased and children show an enhanced development after participating in early intervention programs (Barlow et al, 2010;Sweet & Appelbaum, 2004). Especially, programs starting already during pregnancy and using a high frequency of home visits were evaluated positively.…”

Intervenciones psicológicas perinatales en depresión materna y vínculo madre-bebé: una revisión sistemática

“…Algunos síntomas descritos en la depresión perinatal como excesiva irritabilidad, ánimo bajo, labilidad emocional, ansiedad y trastornos del sueño, muchas veces son considerados parte de las vivencias normales durante el embarazo o el post-parto, lo cual dificulta el diagnóstico de la depresión perinatal (Halbreich y Karkun, 2006). Considerando el riesgo que esto implica, resulta interesante destacar que el número de mujeres con depresión postnatal aumenta con el tiempo, es decir, mientras 10% de las mujeres son diagnosticadas con depresión a las 8 semanas del postparto, 22% recibe este mismo diagnóstico a los 12 meses de nacido su bebé (Barlow et al, 2010).…”

Home Visit: Benefits for Early Child Development

“…In addition, maternal mental health and early parenting in improving the future child mental health are so important, and these issues have to be present during the perinatal period and child follow up, with interventions to support parents, parenting and the parentinfant relationship [21].…”