Influencing Factors on Parent-Infant Psychotherapy

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Influencing Factors on Parent-Infant Psychotherapy

  • IRAS ID

    184253

  • Contact name

    Alice Cook

  • Contact email

    alice.cook.2012@live.rhul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Royal Holloway University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 9 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    The study will consist of 20 participants who are due to attend Parent-Infant Psychotherapy (PIP) provided by the Perinatal Parent-Infant Mental Health Service in North East London. Participants will have one or more children who are currently placed on a child protection plan. The study will use triangulation as it contains both quantitative and qualitative measures.

    At the start of engaging in therapeutic treatment participants will complete an Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI), which will be scored for their level of mentalization (measured as reflective function). The presence of unresolved attachment-based trauma will also be scored prior to treatment using the AAI and the Trauma Symptom Checklist. Participants will also be asked questions relating to their thoughts about engaging in the intervention. All of the instruments of assessment will also be administered to participants following 9 months of them receiving the Parent-Infant Psychotherapy intervention (PIP). After PIP treatment participants will also complete an interview specifically designed to explore their thoughts on the intervention and their parenting, as well as their relationship with their child prior to and after receiving the treatment. The interviews will be used in conjunction with the pre- and post- intervention measures of trauma and reflective function in order to identify the presence of certain defence mechanisms, such as extreme withdrawal or denial, as well as protective factors which may contribute to the extent to which a successful outcome can be achieved when using this intervention.

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/LO/1203

  • Date of REC Opinion

    5 Aug 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion