Characteristics and outcomes of infants admitted to a parent–infant inpatient psychiatric unit: A pilot study

Inpatient parent–infant psychiatric units (PIUs) are considered “gold standard” for treating maternal mental illness, with well‐documented positive outcomes for mothers. However, little research addresses outcomes for infants in these units, who often face significant developmental and socio‐emotional adversity. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and progress of an Australian PIU population, focusing on the impact of PIU admission on infant outcomes. Over 3 months, 31 consecutively admitted mother–infant pairs (dyads) were assessed through interviews, observations, and standardized measures to evaluate maternal and infant characteristics and progress from admission to discharge. Maternal well‐being and the mother–infant relationship improved. Infants exhibited high levels of physical (29%) and developmental concerns (80.6%). 22.6% receiving an Axis I infant mental health diagnosis. Infant socio‐emotional responsiveness improved significantly, as measured by the modified Alarm‐Distress Baby Scale, indicating a positive impact of PIU admission. The small sample size and reliance on clinician‐observed measures limit the generalizability of the findings. PIU infants are particularly vulnerable, and PIU admission may ameliorate socio‐emotional responsiveness. Further research with larger samples and extended follow‐up is needed to determine the most effective intervention strategies during and after PIU admission to maximize benefits for these infants. Resumen Trasfondo: La unidad siquiátrica para progenitor‐infante hospitalizados (PIU) es considerada como el “criterio de referencia” para tratar enfermedades mentales maternas, con resultados positivos para las madres bien documentados. Sin embargo, poca investigación aborda los resultados para infantes en estas unidades, los cuales a menudo enfrentan adversidades de desarrollo y socioemocionales significativas. Objetivos: Este estudio piloto se propuso evaluar las características y progreso de un grupo de pacientes PIU en Australia, enfocándose en el impacto que la admisión a PIU tiene sobre el resultado en los infantes. Métodos: A lo largo de tres meses, se evaluaron 31 pares (díadas) madre‐infante consecutivamente admitidas por medio de entrevistas, observaciones y medidas estandarizadas para evaluar las características maternas y del infante y el progreso desde la admisión hasta que se les da de alta. Resultados: El bienestar materno y la relación madre‐infante mejoraron. Los infantes dem