Translation of Mother-Baby Interaction Therapy-Interpersonal Psychotherapy (MBIPT) for Postpartum Depression from In-Person to Digital DeliveryMother-Baby Interaction Therapy via MommaConnect: Strategies to Translate a Face-to-Face Intervention to a Digital Healthcare Platform

Abstract

Translation of Mother-Baby Interaction Therapy-Interpersonal Psychotherapy (MBIPT) for Postpartum Depression from In-Person to Digital Delivery
June Andrews Horowitz, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, Bobbie Posmontier, PhD, CNM, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, , Pamela A. Geller, PhD, Mary McDonough, RN, PhD, Mona Elgohail, PhD, Kayla Alvares, RN, PhD, Yiqi Wang, PhD, Katie Chang, MS, Tony Ma, MS
Background and Purpose
Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 20% of women worldwide and often disrupts the mother-infant relationship, contributing to long-term developmental challenges among children. Although PPD treatment reduces depressive symptoms, it may not repair disrupted maternal-infant interactions. Mother-Baby Interaction Therapy (MBI) enhances these interactions by helping mothers recognize infant cues, reduce intrusive or withdrawn behaviors, and build sensitivity and responsiveness. We adapted the in-person MBI for MommaConnect, a clinician-directed digital platform that augments psychotherapy, expands access, visually reinforces baby cues and behaviors, and enables mother-infant interaction video uploads for review and coaching with the clinician. The purpose of this article is to describe the translation of the MBC approach from an in-person behavioral/coaching intervention for maternal depression and mother-infant interaction (MBI), and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to a more accessible, digitally enhanced approach (MBIPT), via MommaConnect, that integrates critical treatment components into a user-friendly platform, with clinician- and patient-facing tools available between sessions.
Theoretical Framework
The PRECEDE-PROCEED Model is a comprehensive planning and theoretical framework that incorporates epidemiological, environmental, behavioral, and social factors systematically to design, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs. This model guided MommaConnect development. In addition, we are using a nine-stage process to translate MBIPT into a digitally-augmented treatment for women with PPD and their infants including understanding needs, translating therapy; designing the platform; testing usability/feasibility, and efficacy; providing clinical validation, deployment, and monitoring; and ensuring attention to ethics and safety. In this paper, we describe stages 1-3 for development of MommaConnect.
Methods
Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model, we evaluated outcomes through qualitative feedback from participant focus groups and in-depth interviews with clinicians. Translation strategies included co-creation with mothers who experienced PPD through focus groups, iterative usability testing, and continuous evaluation of feasibility and acceptability.
Results
Preliminary results show high acceptability, usability, and feasibility. Mothers value visual examples of infant cues and the ability to upload videos for feedback. Early findings indicate that digital MBIPT delivery via MommaConnect holds promise for replicating and augmenting the therapeutic components of in-person sessions, while enhancing convenience and engagement.
Conclusions and Implications
MommaConnect offers an innovative, accessible approach to integrate MBI with psychotherapy for PPD and improve the quality of mother-infant interaction. Its digital adaptation may expand access and reach, reduce barriers to care, and inform the broader translation of evidence-based behavioral interventions into scalable, technology-enabled formats. Continued MommaConnect development will evaluate clinical outcomes and benefits for maternal-child mental health. This work has the potential to transform access to perinatal mental health care, improve maternal and infant outcomes, and reduce the long-term sequelae associated with untreated PPD and disrupted early relational experiences