Introduction. The perinatal period is a window of developmental plasticity in which parental affect regulation, sensitivity, and mentalizing shape early socio-emotional trajectories and child well-being. Video-feedback interventions (VFI), especially when delivered as stand-alone techniques, have been shown to promote parental reflective functioning and moment-to-moment sensitivity, offering a low-cost and flexible strategy with promising outcomes for prevention and early intervention in contexts of psychosocial vulnerability.
Purpose. This study introduces a remote (online) VFI for mothers experiencing postpartum depressive symptoms, delivered within a psychodynamic framework. Preliminary clinical evidence from its early implementation is reported.
Method. Eligible participants were identified through screening between the 2rd and 3th postpartum month. The program includes a first assessment, ten bi-weekly remote VFI sessions (full video review, selection of salient frames, and guided reflective discussion), a post-intervention assessment and a conclusive meeting, followed by a four-month follow-up. Outcome measures include maternal reflective functioning, observed sensitivity, depressive and anxiety symptoms, parental stress, child socio-emotional indicators, and general distress. Evaluation of the intervention is currently ongoing within a pre-post study comparing an intervention group and a waitlist control group.
Results. Preliminary clinical evidence suggests improvements across multiple domains. Participants reported reductions in depressive and anxious symptoms, increased reflective capacity regarding the infant's mental states, and greater sensitivity during interaction sequences. General functioning scores showed favorable trends, and clinical notes highlighted enhanced parental agency and emotional availability. These changes underscore the intervention's potential to strengthen the parent-infant relationship. The online delivery format also appears promising.
Conclusions. A remote, psychodynamically oriented VFI appears feasible, well accepted, and associated with encouraging changes in maternal mentalizing, sensitivity, and psychological well-being. While evaluation is ongoing, preliminary findings support the importance of controlled trials to establish efficacy and inform dissemination in community and clinical settings.


The work was supported by Research and University Ministry, PRIN Research Found 2022.