Mothers with a history of trauma and their children: a systematic review of treatment interventions.

Introduction: Mothers with a history of trauma frequently face significant challenges in their relationships with their children. Therefore, it is crucial for trauma-exposed mothers and their young children to receive adequate trauma-informed treatment. This review aimed to examine the effects of trauma-informed interventions on improving the mother-child relationship among mothers with a history of trauma and their young children under 6 years old. Methods: The study analyzed 15 articles that met the eligibility criteria, encompassing a sample size of 1,321 mothers. The systematic GRADE approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence in this systematic review. Results: The study found that while some interventions demonstrated small to large effects, the quality of evidence was only moderate. The most promising interventions were Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and Maternal Empowerment Program (MEP), which all included elements of psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and skills training. Discussion: The study underscores the importance of understanding the needs of mother-child dyads affected by trauma and tailoring interventions to meet those needs. Overall, the literature suggests that interventions combining psychotherapeutic, psychoeducational, and skills-training components are most effective in improving mother and child-related outcomes for mothers with a history of trauma and their young children. The review provides recommendations for future research and emphasizes the importance of considering the mother-child relationship in trauma-informed interventions.