Breath-holding spells in infants as a defense emotional reaction: A case presentation

Abstract

Introduction: Emotional affect in infants can occur without identifying a stimulus and can be based on an automatic reconstruction of a reaction pattern. Nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders, such as breath-holding spells (BHSs), are a frequent pattern of emotional reaction in todlers. Intense development of nervous system is closely connected with both social and emotional development and is influenced by most immediate family environment. Aim: Aim of this work was to present clinical case of a child with respiratory arrest and effects of psychological therapeutic interventions. Case study: An 11-month-old child with manifestations of respiratory arrest while crying was examined using the child’s developmental scale in order to determine the child’s developmental resources in psychomotor area. An interview and a neurological examination confirmed the initial diagnosis of BHSs. Psychological tests assesed development of the patient as average/high in relation to a peer group. Therapeutic sessions with parents aimed at implementing positive changes in child’s home environment. Results and discussion: Therapeutic psychological interventions resulted in cessation of fits of apnea in the patient. Psychological testing performed 6 months later still described the psychomotor development of the child as average/high in the performance scale. However, important differences in the area of temperamental features were recorded. Conclusions: (1) Improvement obsereved after implemented psychological indications allows to conclude that BHSs presented by the child were a defense emotional reaction to an unfavourable home environment. (2) Emotional development of a child should be understood in a multifaceted way.