Primary care-video intervention therapy (pc-VIT): when the pediatrician setting posits a new way for early interventions.

Video-feedback is a powerful tool that is increasingly being used across several therapeutic modalities. The present study is aimed at describing a first preliminary application of a video-feedback intervention program (George Downing’s Video Intervention Therapy, VIT) to support caregiver sensitivity and mentalization, framed within pediatrics well-baby visits. A multimodal, longitudinal design has been applied in order to evaluate the intervention. Twenty-one parents-infant couples were enrolled in the experimental VIT intervention. Six video-feedback sessions took place longitudinally from the 1st to the 18th month of child’s life (1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 18 months). Across sessions, different interactional situations were video- recorded and discussed by the pediatrician with both parents. Along with the video-feedback sessions, participants were assessed on: Post-partum Depression (EPDS); Marital Quality (DAS), Child’s Temperament(QUIT), Parents’ Adult Attachment (AAI), Parents’ emotions toward the child (FMSS) and parent-infant interaction quality (CIB). Preliminary results highlight a very high acceptance rate for the intervention, with 19 out of 21 parents agreeing to participate in the video-feedback program. Very low rates of drop-out characterized the sample, with 100% of mothers and 90% of father attending all sessions. Interestingly, the involvement of the father from the first session seems to guarantee his complete attendance to the following appointments. In addition, parents depression decreased during the first year both for mothers (M first month= 5.8 vs. M eighth month = 3.6) and fathers (M first month= 4.5 vs. M eighth month = 3.5). Our preliminary findings outline the importance of adopting a familiar-relational (mother- father- child) focus in primary care, involving the father from the first month of child’s life. The positive experience of the intervention might positively affect the parents’ emotional state across time.