GST-moms: Effects of Group-schematherapy on Mother-child Attachment Relations

Maastricht University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Mother-Child Relations; Cluster C Personality Disorder (Diagnosis)

Treatments: Behavioral: Group schematherapy

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06102564

ERCPN 264_29_02_2023

Details and patient eligibility

About

The birth of a baby can be a stressful period. Dysfunctional schemas of the 'new' parent can be triggered making it more difficult to discern what the baby needs are. In schema therapy terms, mentalizing capacity is best described as the "healthy adult mode". A parent who responds to her baby from a healthy adult mode provides the baby a safe environment for self-development. However, interpreting the baby's signals can be a constant challenge for some parents. This can trigger early attachment relationships and schemas. At such times, the parent may become overwhelmed by their own emotions and respond less adequate to the child's needs. Distorted parental reflective functioning is associated both with insecure attachment and poor affect regulation in the parent and with various psychological disorders in the child. Treatments aimed at improving parental reflectiveness seem to have a positive impact on the quality of the attachment between parents and their baby.

The objective of this study is to measure the effects of the group-schematherapy for mothers with young children (GST moms) on mother-child attachment relations. The aim is to help moms regulate their own emotions, by understanding their own modes and schema's. In doing so will help them feel more confident to mentalize about their child and to adequately respond to their needs and emotionally bond with their baby. The researchers anticipate it will improve the quality of attachment between mother and child. Many studies have been done on the effectiveness of group schematherapy however there are no studies specifically for schematherapy for parents, in this case mothers. GST moms can be an early intervention aimed at prevention of psychological problems with the child.

Enrollment: 12 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Eligible patients for the group schematherapy are mothers with young children (0-5 years), with a cluster C personality disorder.

Exclusion criteria

• Acute Suicidal or chronic suicidality
• Psychotic disorder
• Autistic spectrum disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Developmental disorders
• Any other AS-I disorder that requires treatment first (severe depression, alcohol and/or drugs abuse)
• Cluster A or B personality disorders (traits of cluster B in combination with Cluster C personality disorder is included)
• Neuropsychological damage
• General problems for group therapy (auditory impairment, severe physical disability, insufficant Dutch comprehension, IQ < 80)
• Self-mutilation