@article{ref1,
title="Post-discharge outcomes for mothers and the mother-infant relationship following admission to a psychiatric mother-baby unit",
journal="Infant mental health journal",
year="2020",
author="Wright, Tanya and Stevens, Suzanne and Reed, Peter W. and Wouldes, Trecia A.",
volume="41",
number="6",
pages="770-782",
abstract="Mother-Baby Unit research has focussed on maternal psychopathology over the course of an admission. Less is known about the baby's well-being, the shared relationship, or the mother's recovery. In an initial sample of 45 women, we describe discharge and post-discharge outcomes for maternal psychopathology (using maternal report and the Global Assessment of Function, GAF) and the mother-infant relationship (using the Child and Adult Relational Experimental Index, CARE Index). Three months post-discharge, one third of women described themselves as &quot;completely recovered,&quot; one third were experiencing significant deterioration and 17% were readmitted to inpatient care. Poorer GAF scores were associated with a clinical diagnosis of comorbid personality disorder, antenatal presence of the index illness, partner illicit substance use, maternal perception of her bond, infant social withdrawal, and child protection concern. Post-discharge, the mother-infant relationship results were concerning. Only 17% were regarded as adequate. Improvement was observed across this period in 56% but relational deterioration occurred for 35%. Maternal and relational outcomes were weakly correlated at discharge (r² = 0.29, p = 0.07) but this was lost post-discharge (r² = 0.03, p = 0.89). The shared relationship and infant mental health should both be targets for intervention; both during MBU admission, and post-discharge.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0163-9641",
doi="10.1002/imhj.21870",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21870"
}