Introduction: Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that around 70% of children diagnosed with food refusal and poor weight gain in infancy continued to have eating problems at four and six years of age (Dahl et al., 1992, 1994) and that early feeding problems, such as "picky eating", early struggles with food and problem meals are related to Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa during adolescence (Kotler et al., 2001). Consequently, early diagnosis and effective treatment of feeding disorders are critical for the child's healthy development. Objectives: 1) to evaluate, through a follow-up study of the original children diagnosed with Infantile Anorexia at the age of 5-8 years, their health, growth and emotional/behavioral functioning over time; 2) to identify the continuity of maternal and childrisk factors in the original infantile anorexics and their mothers over time. Methodology: Sample. N=140 of the original anorexic patients and their mothers, paired with a control group, has been investigated. Tools and procedures. the sample was evaluated through parental interviews, medical reports and clinical assessment on feeding and emotional/behavioral problems of their children, and maternal psychopathology, and through the following clinical tools: Eating Attitude Test-40, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Child Behavior Checklist. Results: High percentage (~80%) of the original anorexic patients are at risk of later problems with their eating patterns; they were found to gain less weight and suffer from persistent feeding disturbances with selective eating patterns, fear/mistrusting of new foods, eating excessively slowly at mealtimes, a delay in self-eating. Moreover, the original patients showed significant higher scores in anxiety during separation from the caregiver, moodiness, contrary and uncooperative behavior, stubbornness and angry moods. Mothers of the IA infants still showed symptoms such as anxiety/depression, somatization and concern over their own eating regulation, suggesting an association between mothers' dysfunctional psychological states and the continuing feeding and emotional regulation difficulties in their children. Discussion and Conclusions: our study points out the need for longitudinal research to shed light on the relationship of Infantile Anorexia to eating disorders of later childhood and adolescence, as well as the possible impact of maternal psychopathology on the child`s emotional development over time.
Infantile anorexia and developmental risk factors: A prospective study from infancy to childhood
LUCARELLI, LOREDANA;
2010-01-01
Abstract
Introduction: Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that around 70% of children diagnosed with food refusal and poor weight gain in infancy continued to have eating problems at four and six years of age (Dahl et al., 1992, 1994) and that early feeding problems, such as "picky eating", early struggles with food and problem meals are related to Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa during adolescence (Kotler et al., 2001). Consequently, early diagnosis and effective treatment of feeding disorders are critical for the child's healthy development. Objectives: 1) to evaluate, through a follow-up study of the original children diagnosed with Infantile Anorexia at the age of 5-8 years, their health, growth and emotional/behavioral functioning over time; 2) to identify the continuity of maternal and childrisk factors in the original infantile anorexics and their mothers over time. Methodology: Sample. N=140 of the original anorexic patients and their mothers, paired with a control group, has been investigated. Tools and procedures. the sample was evaluated through parental interviews, medical reports and clinical assessment on feeding and emotional/behavioral problems of their children, and maternal psychopathology, and through the following clinical tools: Eating Attitude Test-40, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Child Behavior Checklist. Results: High percentage (~80%) of the original anorexic patients are at risk of later problems with their eating patterns; they were found to gain less weight and suffer from persistent feeding disturbances with selective eating patterns, fear/mistrusting of new foods, eating excessively slowly at mealtimes, a delay in self-eating. Moreover, the original patients showed significant higher scores in anxiety during separation from the caregiver, moodiness, contrary and uncooperative behavior, stubbornness and angry moods. Mothers of the IA infants still showed symptoms such as anxiety/depression, somatization and concern over their own eating regulation, suggesting an association between mothers' dysfunctional psychological states and the continuing feeding and emotional regulation difficulties in their children. Discussion and Conclusions: our study points out the need for longitudinal research to shed light on the relationship of Infantile Anorexia to eating disorders of later childhood and adolescence, as well as the possible impact of maternal psychopathology on the child`s emotional development over time.
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