Psychological consultation on a pediatric infant division.

Abstract

A newly developed program of psychological services for infants in a pediatric hospital is described. In I year, 56 infants and toddlers were referred for evaluation and treatment-planning for problems such as delayed cognitive development, child abuse and neglect, chronic illness and prolonged hospitalization, and physical symptoms with a psychosocial basis, including environmentally based failure to thrive. An active visible presence and case conferences featuring live demonstration of developmental assessment facilitated treatment planning concerning such problems. Although psychological services for infants were well accepted by families and pediatric staff, the inconsistent coordination between hospital and community-based services limited the quality of services to infants following hospitalization. Moreover, the lack of services for infant psychosocial problems emerged as an important gap in community mental health services. The development of hospital and community-based treatment programs for infants at emotional risk is a priority for the growing field of infant mental health. Developmentally trained psychologists can play a leadership role in the implementation of mental health services for infants in pediatric hospitals.