Diagnoses and interactive patterns of infants referred to a community-based infant mental health clinic

Miri Keren, Ruth Feldman, Samuel Tyano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the distribution of symptoms and diagnoses in a community-based infant mental health clinic and to compare play and feeding interactions of referred and nonreferred infants. Method: The Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC 0-3) was used to diagnose 113 referred infants (60% were boys). Thirty additional dyads were matched with 30 nonreferred dyads. Feeding, play interactions, and home environment were compared. Results: Two peaks of referral were found: 0 to 6 and 12 to 18 months. The main reasons for referral were eating problems, sleep problems, aggressive behavior, irritability, and maternal depression. The most common DC 0-3 diagnosis was a combination of primary infant disorder, parent-child relationship disorder, and parental psychopathology. Mothers of referred children provided lower levels of sensitivity, support, and structuring of the interaction, and less optimal home environment. The dyadic relationship showed a lower degree of mutuality and higher negative exchanges. Feeding interactions elicited more negative interactions than play. Conclusions: Infants referred by community health workers showed less optimal mother-infant interactions and had less optimal environment, compared with nonreferred dyads. Symptoms of emotional distress in infancy are best apprehended when assessed in multisituational contexts and formulated in a multiaxial approach.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-35
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume40
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the SACTA Foundation and General Kupat Holim for their joint financial support of the Unit, the Well-Baby Clinics, and the Mother–Child Branch of the Ministry of Health for providing us access to the control sample.

Funding

The authors thank the SACTA Foundation and General Kupat Holim for their joint financial support of the Unit, the Well-Baby Clinics, and the Mother–Child Branch of the Ministry of Health for providing us access to the control sample.

FundersFunder number
SACTA Foundation
General Kupat Holim
Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social

    Keywords

    • Clinic and non-clinic infants
    • Diagnoses
    • Mother-infant feeding and play interactions

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Diagnoses and interactive patterns of infants referred to a community-based infant mental health clinic'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this