Role of Early Developmental Factors in Susceptibility to Disease

Abstract

Early developmental factors implicated in subsequent infant and child development are presented. The orientation adopted emphasizes both the interplay between constitutional and environmental factors and the mutual interaction between the child and its environment. The present paper concentrates on pre- and perinatal factors and maternal psychopathology affecting mainly the early mother-child interaction and, in turn, child developmental outcome.

Maternal Postnatal Emotional Well-being and Perceived Parenting Hassles: Does Community Intervention with Normal Populations Make a Difference?

“…This association has been explained as largely mediated by impaired patterns of early communication between the mother and the child (Carter et al, 2001;Field, 1984;Field et al, 1985;Murray et al, 1993;Murray et al, 1996;Murray et al, 2001), a fact of great importance as it occurs at a time when infants are particularly vulnerable and dependent. Research has also shown that the occurrence of even short-lived depressive mood in the first few months after birth may compromise infant regulation of attention and affect, with implications for cognitive and socio-emotional development (Christodoulou & Dragonas, 1992;.…”

Early intervention in psychiatry

“…Early developmental factors, like preterm birth and other pre‐ and perinatal factors as well as interaction of the child with a mother with mental illness have been highlighted as issues of great importance (for review see the study by Christodoulou and Dragona 3 ). Therefore, it is important to limit the detrimental effect of these factors, possibly by adopting a more global approach like the transactional model or the ecological model advocated by Zigler et al 4…”