The positive impact of an intervention for maternal depression on child emotional and behavioral symptoms in a low-resource setting

Autor(es)

Elis Viviane Hoffmann ^[1] ; Cristiane S. Duarte ^[2] ; Camila T. Matsuzaka ^[3] ; Ana Carolina Coelho Milani ^[4] ; Victor Fossaluza ^[5] ; Andrea F. Mello ^[6] ; Marcelo F. Mello

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

^[2] Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Estados Unidos

^[3] Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Departamento de Matemática e Estatística - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria; v. 44, n. 6, p. 590-601, 2022-12-19.

Resumo

Objectives: Children of depressed mothers are at risk of developing mental health problems. We sought to determine whether treatment for maternal depression by community-based health workers would decrease behavioral/emotional symptoms in their children. Interventions for maternal depressive symptoms in a low/middle-income country can have a high global impact. Methods: Community-based health workers were trained to deliver a psychosocial intervention for mothers with depression in a primary care setting. A total of 49 mothers and 60 children were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 6 months follow-up. Child behavioral/emotional symptoms were evaluated according to type of change in maternal depressive symptoms: response or remission. Results: An overall decrease in maternal depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention and 6 months follow-up were found. Response or remission was associated with better outcomes in child behavioral/emotional symptoms at 6 months follow-up (p = 0.0247, Cohen’s d: 0.76; p = 0.0224, Cohen’s f: 0.44) but not at post-intervention (p = 0.1636, Cohen’s d: 0.48; p = 0.0720, Cohen’s f: 0.33). Conclusions: Improvement in maternal depression was related to decreased behavioral/emotional symptoms in their children. Our results suggest that providing interventions for maternal depression in primary care is a viable strategy to prevent behavioral/emotional symptoms in the next generation. Clinical Trial registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials, number RBR-5qhmb5. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/17485-4 - Psicoterapia interpessoal no formato triagem para tratamento de depressão em crianças
• Beneficiário: Marcelo Feijó de Mello
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular