Shattered maternal identity and early childhood depression

Authors

  • Sara Rodrigues Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6258-7711
  • Pedro Samuel Pinto Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7868-0582
  • Vânia Martins Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v32.i2.26225

Keywords:

child neglect, depressive disorder, gender dysphoria

Abstract

Introduction: Depression in early childhood was first described by Spitz in 1940. The literature reports an association between depressive symptoms in infants and early affective deprivation, pinpointing maternal depression as a major risk factor. However, there is little evidence on the impact of maternal comorbid depression and gender dysphoria on the risk of depression in early childhood.
Case report: A 25-month-old toddler was referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Department for persistent irritability and sleep disturbances. His mother had persistent depressive disorder and had never felt comfortable in her role as a mother, struggling with caregiving and responding to the child’s emotional needs. During follow-up, maternal symptoms of gender dysphoria were identified.
Discussion: Mother-infant bonding and responsive caregiving are essential for adequate socioemotional development.

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References

Spitz R. Anaclitic depression. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child. 1946; 2(1): 313-42.

Murray L, Arteche A, Fearon P, Halligan S, Goodyer I, Cooper P. Maternal postnatal depression and the development of depression in offspring up to 16 years of age. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2011; 50(5): 460-70.

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Published

2023-09-14

How to Cite

1.
Rodrigues S, Pinto PS, Martins V. Shattered maternal identity and early childhood depression. REVNEC [Internet]. 2023Sep.14 [cited 2024Sep.18];32(2):137-40. Available from: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/nascercrescer/article/view/26225

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Case Reports

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Sara Rodrigues, Pedro Samuel Pinto, Vânia Martins

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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