ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the first controlled study on early prevention in France, with a psychodynamic, attachment-oriented approach. The theoretical basis of the intervention heavily drew from Selma Fraiberg's concepts: "Ghosts in the nursery", with the key concepts of developmental conflict between infant and a young mother. Ten maternity wards participated in recruitment for the study, with families living in the northern part of the City of Paris and in the suburbs. One significant result was a positive effect of the intervention on the use of the Protection Maternelle et Infantile as well as the use of mental health services. When infants were from twelve to sixteen months of age, their mothers were invited to participate in the CAPEDP-A study. Group supervision, twice a month, centred on risk issues for both the child and the mother, and sometimes for fathers. However, a home based preventive intervention is demanding and calls for a high level of supervision and support to be effective.
