Schizophrenia, mental state, and mother-infant interaction: examining the relationship

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the role that disturbance of mental state of hospitalised mothers with a postpartum schizophrenic illne ss plays in determining the quality of mother-infant interactions. Method: We examined the relationship between the nature and severity of sym ptomatology in mothers with schizophrenia and the quality of her interactio ns with her infant in a sample of 15 mother-infant dyads admitted to a psyc hiatric Mother-Baby Unit, Data were obtained at admission and discharge. Results: Mothers with florid positive symptoms and prominent negative sympt oms of schizophrenia and their infants were identified as being at particul ar risk of dis; playing disturbed interactions. The adverse contribution of negative symptoms was often not: evident until after the positive symptoms had resolved. Conclusions: Given that negative symptoms are often treatment resistant, op timal care of mothers with schizophrenia and their infants needs to involve ongoing therapeutic intervention which specifically addresses disturbances of mother-infant interaction. Further research is required to identify whi ch interventions are likely to be of greatest benefit.