Face-to-face interactions of postpartum depressed and nondepressed mother-infant pairs at 2 months.

Depressions influence on mother-infant interactious at 2 months postpartum was studied in 24 depressed and 22 nondepressed mothex-infant dyads. Depression was diagnosed using the SADS-L and RDC. In Ss homes, structured interactions of 3 min duration were videotaped and later coded using behavioral descriptors and a l-s time base. Unstructured interactions were described using rating scales. During structured interactions, depressed mothers were more negative and their babies were less positive than were nondepressed dyads. The reduced positivity of depressed dyads was achieved through contingent resixmfiveness. Ratings from unstructured interactions were consistent with these findings. Results support the hypothesis that depression negatively influences motherinfant behaviol; but indicate that influence may vary with development, chronicity, and presence of other risk factors. Ten to 15 % of postpartum women develop a moderate, clinically significant depressive reaction that is more prolonged than the blues and serious enough to interfere with daily functioning (OHara, Neunaber, Zekosld, 1984). Postpartum depression is thus a potentially important mental health problem for