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The Reliability and Validity of the Bethlem Mother–Infant Interaction Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Andrew J. Stocky ,
Bruce J. Tonge  and
Russell J. Nunn
Andrew J. Stocky*
Affiliation:
Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry
Bruce J. Tonge
Affiliation:
Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry
Russell J. Nunn
Affiliation:
Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry
*
Dr A. J. Stocky, Director, Mother–Baby Unit, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Monash Medical Centre, Locked Bag 29, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract

Background

The Bethlem Scale was designed as a validated measure of mother–infant adjustment in mother–baby units.

Method

A multi-centre trial was conducted to investigate aspects of the reliability, validity and clinical usefulness of the Bethlem Mother–infant Interaction Scale within five in-patient psychiatric mother–baby units.

Results

This revealed good inter-rater, test-retest and inter-item reliability. Correlations of the scale items with psychiatrist's ratings and changes in scoring over time suggest reasonable validity, despite some design problems with individual items.

Conclusion

Mother–infant interaction scales may have an important role in improving the quality of care for mothers and their babies in the psychiatric setting. The development of a more extensive scale, the Monash Mother–infant Interaction Scale, is discussed.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 1 , July 1996 , pp. 27 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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