From Dyad to Triad in Early Childhood: Mentalization-Informed Interventions Developed in Chile
Abstract
© 2024 JICAP Foundation, Inc.Early interactions with primary caregivers shape child development and lay the foundation for later mental health. In the context of parenting, attachment styles and parental reflective functioning are key elements for infant/child development and can be influenced by adverse or traumatic experiences. Mentalization-based models provide a comprehensive view on, and effective intervention tools for group dyadic and triadic approaches to attachment difficulties during early childhood. This article reviews 3 brief mentalization-informed interventions developed in Chile, focusing on the first three years of life. Participants in these interventions include mothers, fathers, and children with different characteristics from diverse backgrounds. Initial studies focus on mothers with perinatal depressive symptoms and their babies, considering dyads receiving attention from the public service and dyads residing in prisons. Subsequent studies target triads of mother-father-infant with socio-emotional development difficulties and dyads of mother-baby with depressive symptoms attended online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results demonstrate significant improvements in the quality of dyadic and triadic family interactions, with some also showing symptomatic relief in maternal depression and enhancements in infant development. The studies emphasize the value of video feedback as an effective tool for promoting parental reflective functioning through brief interventions.
Description
Keywords
purinergic receptor, temporal lobe epilepsy, interictal discharges, cognitive dysfunction, cortical oscillation