Post‐discharge outcomes for mothers and the mother–infant relationship following admission to a psychiatric Mother–Baby Unit.

Mother–Baby Unit research has focussed on maternal psychopathology over the course of an admission. Less is known about the baby's well‐being, the shared relationship, or the mother's recovery. In an initial sample of 45 women, we describe discharge and post‐discharge outcomes for maternal psychopathology (using maternal report and the Global Assessment of Function, GAF) and the mother–infant relationship (using the Child and Adult Relational Experimental Index, CARE Index). Three months post‐discharge, one third of women described themselves as "completely recovered," one third were experiencing significant deterioration and 17% were readmitted to inpatient care. Poorer GAF scores were associated with a clinical diagnosis of comorbid personality disorder, antenatal presence of the index illness, partner illicit substance use, maternal perception of her bond, infant social withdrawal, and child protection concern. Post‐discharge, the mother–infant relationship results were concerning. Only 17% were regarded as adequate. Improvement was observed across this period in 56% but relational deterioration occurred for 35%. Maternal and relational outcomes were weakly correlated at discharge (r² = 0.29, p = 0.07) but this was lost post‐discharge (r² = 0.03, p = 0.89). The shared relationship and infant mental health should both be targets for intervention; both during MBU admission, and post‐discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]