The COMPARE_interaction Study

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The study will be conducted simultaneously in Heidelberg and Munich.

Duration: 2017–2023

Objectives:

The study investigates families in which mothers suffer from depression and/or anxiety disorders in the period around birth. We are particularly interested in the interaction between parents and their child, but also in couple interaction and child development over the first two years of life.

Background:

Mental disorders in the period around birth (= peripartum period) represent a burden for the affected families. About 12% of women are affected by depression during pregnancy, about 6% in the postpartum period (= time after delivery). In addition to depression, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth. About 7% of all women are affected by anxiety disorders during pregnancy, and about 11% during the first three months postpartum.

This study examines the effects of maternal depression and/or anxiety disorders on child development within the first two years of life, taking into account parent-child interactions. Research shows that it is not the mother's mental disorder alone that affects child development, but rather the mother-child interaction that plays a critical role. We study the influence of dyadic interaction between mother and child and father and child on child development. Of particular interest to us is also how the parents interact with each other as a couple. Furthermore, we are interested in the influence of psychobiological variables, more specifically the stress sensitivity (cortisol, α-amylase, heart rate) of the child in interaction with the parents and also the stress sensitivity of the parents in couple interaction. In addition, we investigate the role of the maternal hormone oxytocin in the context of maternal interaction behavior.

The results of this study will serve as a basis for the development of appropriate support services for affected families.

Study design:

The prospective longitudinal study will include several appointments over the first two years of the child's life, starting 3 months after birth with an initial appointment to videotape the interaction behavior between parent and child. A recording of the parents' interaction with each other (couple interaction) is also made at this appointment. Interviews are conducted with the parents in order to record currently existing psychological stress.

At further examination dates at 12, 18 and 24 months of the child, the focus is on recording the child's development. The socio-emotional and cognitive development of the child is examined in a playful manner, the parent-child interaction is again recorded, and the current mood, the handling of emotions, the child's own parenting behavior, the quality of the partnership, and the child's behavior are inquired about by means of interviews and questionnaires. Saliva samples are taken from the parents and the child to determine their sensitivity to stress. During the parent-child and couple interactions, the heart rate is recorded using electrodes that are attached to the upper body of the study participants and the child. Both procedures are absolutely painless. In order to be able to record the hormone oxytocin – also known as the “bonding hormone” – in the mother, a blood sample is taken from her. Oxytocin plays an important role in social relationships and the mother's emotional bond with her child and is therefore relevant to the study in this context.

Recruitment at the Heidelberg/Mannheim site has already been completed.

Study directors:

Jun.-Prof. Dr. A.-L. Zietlow, University of Mannheim
Prof. Dr. B. Ditzen, University Hospital Heidelberg.

Study directors Munich:

Prof. Dr. C. Reck, University of Munich

Further collaborations:

Prof. Dr. U. Nater, University of Vienna

Prof. Dr. C. Montag, University of Ulm

Contact person:

Dr. N. Nonnenmacher

compare.studiemail-med.uni-heidelberg.de

Tel. 06221-56-34438