Outpatient Psychotherapy for Mothers—First Empirical Results

Motherhood is a vulnerable phase in the life of any woman, one that may be associated with an increased risk of mental illness. Despite the major clinical significance of this patient group, only a few psychotherapeutic treatment programs are tailored to the needs of mothers of infants. Even when treatment is urgently needed, many mothers of infants reject inpatient psychotherapy so as not to be separated from their children. The outcome may be chronification of disorders, in some cases with a negative impact on their childrenʹs development. A new psychotherapeutic outpatient treatment program adapted to the special needs of mothers and offering a substitute to inpatient treatment is presented. First empirical results show that the presented treatment concept led to significant improvements in the symptoms, whose stabilization continued up to the follow-up two years after the start of therapy.