Preventive work with mothers and their babies in a psychiatric day care unit

Certain aspects of the communication between mother (and father) and baby p re of major influence on the developmental outcome of the child. Mentally i ll mothers in psychiatric day care are considerably limited in their commun icative abilities, especially in themes of developmental relevance. As a co nsequence of their inherent ego weakness the mothers flexible adaption to t he babies' needs is impaired. Because of their own emotional neediness moth ers are not sufficiently sensible and responsive to the babies' signals. Al most all of the mothers feel aggressive impulses towards their babies. Indi cation for day care depends to an essential part on the mothers' reflective function concerning aggression. Although there is some danger of child abu se, the joint treatment is considered to prevent early attachment disorders and/or a pathologic developmental outcome in the child. In addition, mothe r-baby-therapy is indicated in cases of severe regulation disorders. The sp ecific moduls of our therapy are illustrated in two case examples.