Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics
This study explored the affect expression and self-regulation capacities of eight month old infants exposed in utero to psychotropic medications. This is a continuation of our previous study conducted on the same cohort when infants were three months old. Psychotropics implicated are antidepressant...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00011/full |
| _version_ | 1811298390752886784 |
|---|---|
| author | Pratibha N Reebye Tammy W.C. Ng Shaila eMisri Irena eStikarovska |
| author_facet | Pratibha N Reebye Tammy W.C. Ng Shaila eMisri Irena eStikarovska |
| author_sort | Pratibha N Reebye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explored the affect expression and self-regulation capacities of eight month old infants exposed in utero to psychotropic medications. This is a continuation of our previous study conducted on the same cohort when infants were three months old. Psychotropics implicated are antidepressant medications: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and a benzodiazepine derivative anxiolytic (clonazepam). The three comparison groups were: control (n=23) (infants gestationally non-exposed to psychotropics), SSRI-alone (n=22) (infants exposed to SSRIs only and having mothers who had a primary diagnosis of depressive disorder without having comorbid anxiety disorder), and SSRI+ group (n=15) (infants gestationally exposed to SSRIs and Clonazepam and having mothers that had both clinical depression and anxiety disorder). Thirty-seven participants from the initial cohort were recruited. Using the Parent Child Early Relational Assessment Scale (PCERA), infants were assessed in a dyadic context during free play and a structured task. There were clear significant differences in psychotropic exposed and non-exposed dyads regarding infant negative affect management. Notable findings were that the SSRI+ group mothers showed significant associations with only one infant affect: i.e. infant negative affect. This group of mothers also showed significant associations with infant’s averting and avoiding behaviors. These associations were seen in both free play and structured task situations signifying probable established pattern. SSRI-alone group was similar to control mothers and showed variable associations with infant’s positive, negative and sober moods unlike SSRI+ group. There were no differences in infants’ capacity for self–regulation in psychotropic exposed and non-exposed groups. Increased awareness of these vulnerable subgroups (SSRI-alone and SSRI+) is needed, in order to safeguard these dyads through better support systems and improved management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:18:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4f67f52887c4ea897679840c06b2d60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:18:36Z |
| publishDate | 2012-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4f67f52887c4ea897679840c06b2d602022-12-22T02:58:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402012-02-01310.3389/fpsyt.2012.0001118108Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to PsychotropicsPratibha N Reebye0Tammy W.C. Ng1Shaila eMisri2Irena eStikarovska3British Columbia's Children's Hospital, affiliated with University of British ColumbiaUniversity College HospitalBritish Columbia's Women's and Children's Health CenterBritish Columbia's Children's Hospital, affiliated with University of British ColumbiaThis study explored the affect expression and self-regulation capacities of eight month old infants exposed in utero to psychotropic medications. This is a continuation of our previous study conducted on the same cohort when infants were three months old. Psychotropics implicated are antidepressant medications: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and a benzodiazepine derivative anxiolytic (clonazepam). The three comparison groups were: control (n=23) (infants gestationally non-exposed to psychotropics), SSRI-alone (n=22) (infants exposed to SSRIs only and having mothers who had a primary diagnosis of depressive disorder without having comorbid anxiety disorder), and SSRI+ group (n=15) (infants gestationally exposed to SSRIs and Clonazepam and having mothers that had both clinical depression and anxiety disorder). Thirty-seven participants from the initial cohort were recruited. Using the Parent Child Early Relational Assessment Scale (PCERA), infants were assessed in a dyadic context during free play and a structured task. There were clear significant differences in psychotropic exposed and non-exposed dyads regarding infant negative affect management. Notable findings were that the SSRI+ group mothers showed significant associations with only one infant affect: i.e. infant negative affect. This group of mothers also showed significant associations with infant’s averting and avoiding behaviors. These associations were seen in both free play and structured task situations signifying probable established pattern. SSRI-alone group was similar to control mothers and showed variable associations with infant’s positive, negative and sober moods unlike SSRI+ group. There were no differences in infants’ capacity for self–regulation in psychotropic exposed and non-exposed groups. Increased awareness of these vulnerable subgroups (SSRI-alone and SSRI+) is needed, in order to safeguard these dyads through better support systems and improved management.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00011/fullSelf-regulationinfantsaffect expressiongestational exposurepsychotropics |
| spellingShingle | Pratibha N Reebye Tammy W.C. Ng Shaila eMisri Irena eStikarovska Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics Frontiers in Psychiatry Self-regulation infants affect expression gestational exposure psychotropics |
| title | Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics |
| title_full | Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics |
| title_fullStr | Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics |
| title_short | Affect Expression and Self-Regulation Capacities of Infants Exposed In Utero to Psychotropics |
| title_sort | affect expression and self regulation capacities of infants exposed in utero to psychotropics |
| topic | Self-regulation infants affect expression gestational exposure psychotropics |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00011/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pratibhanreebye affectexpressionandselfregulationcapacitiesofinfantsexposedinuterotopsychotropics AT tammywcng affectexpressionandselfregulationcapacitiesofinfantsexposedinuterotopsychotropics AT shailaemisri affectexpressionandselfregulationcapacitiesofinfantsexposedinuterotopsychotropics AT irenaestikarovska affectexpressionandselfregulationcapacitiesofinfantsexposedinuterotopsychotropics |