Copenhagen infant mental health project: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing circle of security –parenting and care as usual as interventions targeting infant mental health risks

Abstract

BackgroundInfant mental health is a significant public health issue as early adversity and exposure to early childhood stress are significant risk factors that may have detrimental long-term developmental consequences for the affected children. Negative outcomes are seen on a range of areas such as physical and mental health, educational and labor market success, social network and establishing of family. Secure attachment is associated with optimal outcomes in all developmental domains in childhood, and both insecure and disorganized attachment are associated with a range of later problems and psychopathologies. In disadvantaged populations insecure and disorganized attachment are common, which points to the need of identifying early risk and effective methods of addressing such problems. This protocol describes an experimental evaluation of an indicated group-based parental educational program, Circle of Security–Parenting (COS-P), currently being conducted in Denmark.Methods/designIn a parallel randomized controlled trial of two intervention groups this study tests the efficacy of COS-P compared to Care as Usual (CAU) in enhancing maternal sensitivity and child attachment in a community sample in the City of Copenhagen, Denmark. During the project a general population of an estimated 17.600 families with an infant aged 2–12 months are screened for two known infant mental health risks, maternal postnatal depression and infant social withdrawal. Eligible families (N = 314), who agree to participate, will be randomly allocated with a ratio of 2:1 into the COS-P intervention arm and into CAU. Data will be obtained at inclusion (baseline) and at follow-up when the child is 12–16 months. The primary outcome is maternal sensitivity. Secondary outcomes include quality of infant attachment, language, cognitive and socioemotional development, family functioning, parental stress, parental mentalizing and maternal mental wellbeing.DiscussionThe potential implications of the experimental evaluation of an indicated brief group-based parenting educational program to enhance parental sensitivity and attachment are discussed.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govID: NCT02497677. Registered July 15 2015

Role of Community Nurses in Improving Caregivers' Ability in Caring Children with ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

“…The affection from parents will have a long-term role in the neurological development of the child (Lavallée, Aita, Bourbonnais, & De Clifford-Faugère, 2017). The ability of a child in coping with stress and managing negative emotion becomes the outcomes of social competence, moral and empathy development, and academic achievement (Skovgaard Vaever et al, 2016).…”

“…The prevalence of affectionate tension between parents and child is 13 -82%, depending on the risk factor in the family such as negligence or maltreatment to the child (Skovgaard Vaever, Smith-Nielsen, & Lange, 2016).…”

Socio-demographic Determinants and the Family Ability to Care for Children with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

“…This is indicated by neglect and abuse in the family (Mairs and Nicholls, 2016). Neglect or maltreatment in children is indicated by the tension between parents and children between 13 -82% (Skovgaard Vaever, Smith-Nielsen, and Lange, 2016). Skills in relation to providing a positive feeding style are a major problem (Blaine, Kachurak, Davison, Klabunde, & Fisher, 2017;Kerzner et al, 2016;van der Horst & Sleddens, 2017).…”

“…Parenting problems such as neglect and abuse are important factors for families with ARFID children (Mairs & Nicholls, 2016). The prevalence of affection tension between parents was between 13 -82% depending on the risk factors in the family such as neglected or maltreatment (Skovgaard Vaever, Smith-Nielsen, & Lange, 2016).…”

Efeito de poliformismos genéticos do gene HSD11b1 sobre o risco para desenvolver depressão na população brasileira

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