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Prenatal representations of women with minor depressive symptoms: a randomised controlled trial of an interactive ultrasound intervention

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Maternal depressive symptoms are common during pregnancy and may negatively impact the mother-infant relationship, particularly the development of maternal prenatal representations. This study used a randomised controlled trial to examine whether the interactive ultrasound intervention could improve the quality of prenatal representations of the child among pregnant women with minor depressive symptoms. METHODS: = 35, using the Working Model of the Child Interview. Participants were randomly selected either to the intervention group, which received three interactive ultrasound intervention sessions following the protocol, or the control group, receiving standard care. The intervention aimed to support the prenatal mother - infant relationship by facilitating and strengthening pregnant women's representations of their foetuses, and by increasing maternal involvement and emotional connection with the foetus. RESULTS: Women in both groups showed high levels of nonbalanced, particularly distorted, representations. For 25% of participants, nonbalanced representations became balanced during the study period. However, the intervention did not improve the quality of representations beyond changes observed in both groups. Especially, balanced prenatal representations remained substantially stable in both groups. CONCLUSION: The interactive ultrasound intervention did not have a significant effect. However, the findings provide unique insights into the quality of prenatal representations among women with minor depressive symptoms and highlight the importance of supporting their representational processes during pregnancy.

Source: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2026.2617344

Authors: Johanna Lindstedt, Eeva Ekholm, Henrika Pulliainen, Iida Hilska, Riikka Korja, Sari Ahlqvist-Björkroth

Institutions: University of Turku, Turku University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö