Children of adolescent mothers: A group at risk for psychopathologyS

Abstract

Developmental psychopathology focuses on developmental aspects of pathology as well as individual patterns of adaptation and maladaptation. Adaptation involves the resolution of earlier issues, with successful resolution facilitating adaptation and earlier developmental failures increasing the likelihood of future problems. The study of developmental psychology provides knowledge about normal processes in order to better understand psychopathology as well as groups at high risk for having problems over time. The project described in this paper focuses on applied psychoanalysis using psychoanalytic knowledge and theory in the context of an intervention project involving observational research. A case description of an adolescent mother and her child will be presented to illustrate issues about problematic development in a child first observed as part of the research project and later referred to a therapeutic nursery. The case will be discussed in relation to two questions: (1) Is it possible to define and evaluate manifestations of disturbance early in life that result in definable psychopathology at school age? (2) To what extent can the self-righting capacity of the child or environmental intervention compensate in correcting the developmental process?