Ph.D., Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology 

Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

Contributions of Developmental Psychopathology to the Study of Depressed Mothers and their Infants

Abstract: In this talk, I will take a developmental psychopathology perspective on research on perinatally depressed mothers and their infants. A developmental psychopathology perspective invites one to consider: How can knowledge of normal development inform our efforts to elucidate the etiology of disorders, to assess and classify psychopathology, and to develop effective interventions? The perspective is highly dependent on multiple levels of analysis, and thus I will emphasize what has been learned through the use of behavioral observation technologies in relation to psychophysiological, neuroendocrine, and self-report approaches. The overall aim of the talk is to invite listeners to consider the advantages of this integrative perspective and these technologies in providing opportunities to answer questions that promise to inform theory and practice.  

Related publications:

Lusby, C.M., Goodman, S.H., Bell, M.A., Newport, D.J. (in press): Electroencephalogram patterns in infants of depressed mothers. Developmental Psychobiology. Article first published online: 12 Jul 2013; DOI: 10.1002/dev.21112

Goodman, S.H. & Lusby, C.M. (in press): Depression and early adverse experiences. In: Gotlib, I.H. and Hammen, C.L. (Eds.), Handbook of Depression and Its Treatment, 3rd edition. Guilford.

Hayes, L., Goodman, S.H. & Carlson, E. (2012): Maternal Antenatal Depression and Infant Disorganized Attachment at 12 months. Attachment & Human Development. DOI:10.1080/14616734.2013.743256

Goodman, S.H., Rouse, M.H., Connell, A., Broth, M.R., Hall, C.M. & Heyward, D. (2011): Maternal Depression and Child Psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14, 1-27. DOI 10.1007/s10567-010-0080-1

Goodman, S.H., Rouse, M.H., Long, Q., Ji, S. & Brand, S.R. (2011): Deconstructing antenatal depression: What is it that matters for neonatal behavioral functioning? Infant Mental Health Journal, 32(2), 339-31.

Goodman, S.H. & Rouse, M.H. (2010): Perinatal depression and children: A developmental perspective. In: Tremblay, R.E., Barr, R.G., Peters, R.DeV., Boivin, M. (Eds.): Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (online). Montreal, Quebec: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development; 2010:1-7. Available here

Goodman, S.H. & Brand, S.R. (2009): Depression and early adverse experiences. In: Gotlib, I.H. and Hammen, C.L. (Eds.), Handbook of Depression and Its Treatment, 2nd edition (pp. 249-274). Guilford

Goodman, S.H. (2009): Depression in Mothers: Mediators and Moderators of Risk for the Development of Psychopathology in their Children. In: Ingram, R.E. (Ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Depression. Springer

Goodman, S.H. & Brand, S. (2009): Infants of depressed mothers: Vulnerabilities, risk factors, and protective factors for the later development of psychopathology. In: Zeanah, C. (Ed.), Handbook of Infant Mental Health, 3rd edition, Guilford

Short Biography: I received my Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical) in 1978 from the University of Waterloo under the mentorship of Dr. Donald Meichenbaum, one of the founders of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. I joined the faculty in the Psychology Department at Emory University in 1977 and obtained my license to practice psychology in the state of Georgia soon after that. At Emory University, I progressed through the academic ranks and am currently a Samual Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology. I have a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. I am the current Editor of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. My research interests, grounded in the field of developmental psychopathology, concern the mechanisms by which mothers with depression may transmit psychopathology to their children. I direct research on: (a) maternal depression as an early life stress for infants, (b) vulnerabilities to depression in children of depressed mothers, (c) measuring children's perceptions of parental sadness, (d) women's narratives on their experiences of parenting with depression, and (e) interventions to prevent and treat perinatal depression. I play an active role in mentoring students at all levels. Overall, my work is dedicated to the integration of science and practice in the field of clinical psychology.