Effectiveness of Kangaroo Care for a Patient with Postpartum Depression and Comorbid Mother-InfantBonding Disorder

The presently reported patient was a 37-year-old married primipara with peripartum depression comorbid with bonding disorder.Care anxiety and a lack of affection towards her baby first appeared at around the time of delivery, and the patient developedmajor depression at one month after the birth of her healthy baby. At first, standard treatment for major depression includingthe use of antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy, and supportive psychotherapy were provided. However, bonding problemsappeared to impede and obstruct the amelioration of depression. Although treatment methods for bonding disorder have notyet been established, Kangaroo Care was introduced to facilitate skin-to-skin contact. We also educated her in better parentingbehavior and provided repeated motivational interviews with her family because a lack of partner and social support and personaltemperament (low self-directedness and cooperativeness) were thought to be related to her bonding disorder. This case suggeststhe effectiveness of Kangaroo Care, which promotes a humanizing maturation of both baby and parent alike, for mothers withpostpartum depression and comorbid severe bonding disorder