Handbook

This course designed for postgraduate study aims to provide up to date information on perinatal psychology.

The arrival of a baby into a family is an intensely emotional experience. If new parents are able to support one another and negotiate the challenges of becoming a family, it is a time for learning and growth. For some families, however, this experience is fundamentally challenging and coping well with the changes remains elusive.

The transition to parenthood is widely acknowledged as a period of great change. It is also a time of increased psychological vulnerability. Although emotional upheaval is normal, the vulnerability of this period can have important consequences from the standpoint of the parent/s, infant, and their family. The phenomenon of perinatal depression in parents is well recognised. In Australia, 29% of women are likely to develop a depressive or anxiety disorder in the first 6-8 months postpartum. There is also a growing body of evidence showing that infant growth and development can be influenced by the psychological health of his or her parents.

This five module course explores the psychological processes associated with pregnancy and the first year postpartum. The course covers a range of topics, from the psychology of pregnancy, to bonding and attachment, mood disorders in the perinatal period, infant psychological growth and development, and interventions to support parents, infants and families who experience difficulties. The course focuses not only on evidence-based practice, but also the latest research findings and their implications for future clinical and research initiatives in the field.