Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42452731›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical medicine2026

A Brief Online Mentalization-Based Video-Feedback Intervention (VFI-RF) for Mother-Infant Interaction in Postnatal Risk Conditions: Protocol for a Multicenter Single-Arm Feasibility Study.

Cristina Mazza, Francesca Favieri, Lucia Lombardi, Carmen Trumello, Eleonora Fiorenza, Michela La Stella, Anna Maria Della Vedova, Alessandra Babore, Renata Tambelli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Cristina MazzaDepartment of Human Neurosciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2554-8094
Francesca FavieriDepartment of Psychology, G. d' Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6696-5855
Lucia LombardiDepartment of Psychology, G. d' Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6226-8086
Carmen TrumelloDepartment of Psychology, G. d' Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9537-0711
Eleonora FiorenzaDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0073-7462
Michela La StellaControl-Mastery Theory Italian Group, 00179 Rome, Italy.
Anna Maria Della VedovaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3573-6451
Alessandra BaboreDepartment of Psychology, G. d' Annunzio University of Chieti Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7317-3733
Renata TambelliDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.

Funding

Ministry Of Research PRIN-2022 (CUP MASTER B53D23014300006-CUP B53D23014300006)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The postnatal period involves significant emotional and relational shifts that can challenge early mother-infant interactions, particularly under conditions of psychosocial vulnerability (e.g., maternal anxiety/depression) or infant-related risk (e.g., preterm birth). Maternal mentalization, operationalized as Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF), is a key protective factor for sensitive caregiving and dyadic regulation.

objectivesThis protocol describes a multicenter, open-label, single-arm feasibility study evaluating a brief, fully online, mentalization-based video-feedback intervention (VFI-RF). The study is designed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, rather than its efficacy. We aim to recruit 48 mothers, 24 in each of two risk groups, through socio-health services and neonatal intensive care units. Risk Group 1 will include mothers with clinically significant depressive and/or anxiety symptoms, defined as EPDS > 9 and/or GAD-7 ≥ 10, whereas Risk Group 2 will include mothers of preterm infants, defined as infants born before 37 weeks of gestation.

methodsThe intervention consists of 8 + 2 synchronous online sessions over approximately 5 months. Mothers record brief everyday caregiving interactions (~5 min) to review with a trained clinician, focusing on the infant's internal states and reflective meaning-making. Assessments occur at baseline (T0, infant age ~3 months), post-intervention (T1, ~8 months), and follow-up (T2, ~12 months). Primary feasibility outcomes include recruitment/referral metrics, uptake, retention, assessment completion, missing data, and participant-reported acceptability. Secondary exploratory clinical outcomes include maternal PRF, symptoms, parenting stress, social support, and mother-infant attachment, evaluated via validated self-report questionnaires.

resultsThe study is designed to evaluate referral and recruitment patterns, intervention uptake, and participant retention, as well as the acceptability and suitability of study procedures and outcome measures for a future controlled trial. Preliminary trajectories of change in maternal reflective functioning and early relational indicators will be examined descriptively and exploratorily.

conclusionsFindings will inform the feasibility and refinement of a brief online mentalization-based video-feedback intervention to support at-risk mother-infant dyads during the first postnatal year.

trial registrationRegistered on Open Science Framework, osf.io/6g9ja, date of registration 4th March 2026.

Indexed as

maternal vulnerabilitiesmentalizationparental reflective functioningperinatal anxietyperinatal depressionpostnatalpreterm birthpsychodynamic interventiontelehealthvideo-feedback

Identifiers

PMID42452731
PMCPMC13363683

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.