Providing Continuity in Infant Mental Health Services for Medically Fragile Infants and Their Families

AbstractHaving a baby who is prenatally or postnatally diagnosed with a medical condition places considerable stress on the parents, infants, and their developing relationship. Infant mental health (IMH) services offer an opportunity to address the challenges and support the parent-infant relationship. The present study outlined a continuum of care IMH program embedded within various medical settings of a large metropolitan children ’s hospital. Applications of IMH principles within the fetal care center, neonatal intensive care unit, high risk infant follow-up clinic, and the patient’s home are described. Descriptive data about families served across settings and a case study are provided in order to illustrate the impleme ntation of this unique IMH intervention model.
Source: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research