Prenatal dysthymia versus major depression effects on early mother-infant interactions: a brief report.

Maternal dysthymia and major depression effects on mother-infant interactions were assessed when the infants were 3-months-old. The dysthymia group mothers spent less time smiling, touching and imitating their infants and more time moving their infants' limbs. The infants of the dysthymia group mothers spent less time smiling and more time showing distress behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]