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

NCT06102564 | Unknown DMC

• 1 other identifier: ERCPN 264_29_02_2023
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 12
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

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

Keywords

Group Schematherapy; Mother-child attachment; Effectiviness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The Maternal Postnatal attachment Scale (MPAS, 2015)

  A 19 item self-report questionnaire that is used to assess mother-to-infant attachment (theemotional bond or affection experienced by the parent towards the infant)

  Inclusion (week 1), start therapy (variable; at least 20 weeks after inclusion), evaluation (week 10), end of group therapy (week 20), follow-up (3 months completion = week 20)

• The Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ, 2009)

  A self-report instrument of reflective functioning.

  Inclusion (week 1), start therapy (variable; at least 20 weeks after inclusion), evaluation (week 10), end of group therapy (week 20), follow-up (3 months completion = week 20)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• The Young Schema Questionnaire YSQ-S3 (YSQ-S3; Young, 1994).

  Inclusion (week 1), start therapy (variable; at least 20 weeks after inclusion), evaluation (week 10), end of group therapy (week 20), follow-up (3 months completion = week 20)

• The Schema Mode Inventory (SMI, Lobbestael, 2017)

  Inclusion (week 1), start therapy (variable; at least 20 weeks after inclusion), evaluation (week 10), end of group therapy (week 20), follow-up (3 months completion = week 20)

• Brief Sympthom Inventory (BSI, Derogatis, 1975, de Beurs, 2006)

  Inclusion (week 1), start therapy (variable; at least 20 weeks after inclusion), evaluation (week 10), end of group therapy (week 20), follow-up (3 months completion = week 20)

• The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck et al., 1996)

  Inclusion (week 1), start therapy (variable; at least 20 weeks after inclusion), evaluation (week 10), end of group therapy (week 20), follow-up (3 months completion = week 20)

Other Outcomes (2)

• The Working Model of the child interview (WMCI; Zeanah, Benoit & Barton, 1996)

  Inclusion Week 1

• The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein, 1994)

  Inclusion Week 1

Interventions

Group schematherapy BEHAVIORAL

Brief group schematherapy for mothers with young children (age 0-5) focused on attachment relations between mother and child

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Mothers with young children (0-5 years) with Cluster C personality disorder or mixed/other personality disorder (cluster C and cluster B traits) who encounter problems in the mother-child interaction. They may have depressive and/or anxiety symptoms aswell.

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Maastricht University: lead
• Psychologiepraktijk Esra: collaborator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Jeffrey Roelofs, PhD

  Maastricht University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jeffrey Roelofs, PhD

CONTACT

+31433881607; j.roelofs@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Esra Schuiling-Kayihan, MSc

CONTACT

praktijkesraschuiling@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 3 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator/Clinical professor (PhD)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2023
• First Posted: October 26, 2023
• Study Start: November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2024
• Study Completion: July 1, 2025
• Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10