The Tavistock First-Time Parent Study: a pilot randomised controlled feasibility trial of a brief couple-focused perinatal intervention to reduce inter-parental discord

AbstractNumerous studies report that some first-time parents experience a decline in relationship quality and an increase in conflict after the birth of a first baby. Inter-parental discord that is frequent, intense, and poorly resolved increases the likelihood of relationship breakdown and adversely impacts child development. We investigated the feasibility of a brief preventative couple-focused psychotherapeutic intervention in the perinatal period in a general population sample. Sixty couples expecting their first baby were recruited from the Royal Free Hospital, London. Thirty were randomly assigned to treatment (TMT, a newly developed five-session couple-focused intervention), and 30 to usual care (TAU). Outcomes were collected at 28  weeks into pregnancy, 6–8 weeks after birth, and when the baby was 6 months old. The intervention was feasible and acceptable, evidenced by 100% attendance. However, no change in relationship quality or inter-parental discord was detected in either TMT or TAU groups across the transition to par enthood. The intervention did not improve outcomes vs. TAU. Depression assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale increased across the cohort and mood symptoms assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale decreased in mothers but not fathers. The absence of a decline in relationsh ip quality could reflect sample attributes: couples were older than average UK first-time parents, had high levels of educational qualifications, and...
Source: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research