Mental health assessment of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a service program and a treatment outcome research program

Author(s): VanHorn, P., Grandison, C. M., Pekarsky, J. H.

Journal/Book: Infant Mental Hlth J. 1997; 18: Michigan State Univ, Dept Psychology, E Lansing, MI 48824-1117. Michigan Assn Infant Mental Health. 158-170.

Abstract: This article describes the mental health assessment in preparation for treatment conducted in two University-based clinical programs that offer dyadic child-parent psychotherapy as the treatment modality. The Infant-Parent Program is a mental health program serving children between birth and 3 years of age and their families when the parent-child relationship is jeopardized by risk factors in the parent, child, or family circumstances. The Child Trauma Research Project is an intervention outcome research program serving preschool-aged children and their mothers when the child witnessed domestic violence. The programs share a similar assessment approach emphasizing the importance of a working alliance, spontaneous parental reports, and observation of child-parent interaction in a variety of settings. However, their different functions in terms of clinical service and research dictate appropriate modifications in their respective assessment procedures. The two assessment protocols and their rationale will be described in the context of the clinical and research goals of the programs.

Note: Article Lieberman AF, Univ Calif San Francisco, San Francisco Gen Hosp, Dept Psychiat, Child Trauma Res Project, Bldg 20, San Francisco,CA 94110 USA

Keyword(s): VIOLENCE

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