Behavioral and emotional symptoms of post-institutionalized children in middle childhood

Abstract

Background-Experience in institutional/orphanage care has been linked to increased mental health problems. Research suggests children adopted from institutions experience specific difficulties related to inattention/overactivity. Evidence of internalizing and conduct problems relative to non-adopted peers has been found in early childhood and early adolescence, but problems may not differ from other adopted children. This study clarifies the understanding of behavioral and emotional symptoms of post-institutionalized (PI) children during middle childhood.

Early deprivation as a risk factor for narcissistic identity pathologies in adolescence with regard to international adoption

“…Despite contrasting empirical research results regarding the long-term effects of international adoption on mental health [7][8][9][10][11], large cohort studies evidence that adolescents and young adults who have been adopted in infancy are overall more at risk of severe mental problems, including suicide or attempted suicide, than their non-adopted peers [12,13]. Such higher risk for suicide is consistent with the identity disorders often observed in infant psychiatry in the case of adolescents internationally adopted in infancy [14].…”

Serotonin transporter polymorphism moderates the effects of caregiver intrusiveness on ADHD symptoms among institutionalized preschoolers

“…In fact, recent work indicates that institution-reared children, relative to their family-raised peers, have a higher incidence of ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity [4][5][6], with problems persisting years after they have departed the institution, often due to adoption [7][8][9][10]. Such high prevalence and resistance to intervention led some to argue that these difficulties represent a persistent impairment and constitute a specific deprivation syndrome associated with institutional rearing [11,12].…”

Quality of institutional care and early childhood development

“…Despite such evidence, it remains difficult to draw firm conclusions about the influence of institutional rearing on disturbed attachment behaviour or on broader indices of adjustment (Gunnar, van Dulmen, & The International Adoption Project Team, 2007;Wiik et al, 2011;. Moreover, it is currently unclear whether variation in the nature of the institutional experience affects the development of children there, over and above the effects of timing and dosage.…”