Abstract

BETANCOURT M, Liliana. Autism, Anaclytical Depression and Prevention in Child Mental Health. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.38, suppl.1, pp.110-124. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The care given by the mothers to their children during their growth is paramount for their future mental health. Difficulties arising early in the mother-infant bond may give rise to serious alterations in its development. Objective: To discuss, based on clinical experience and mother-infant bond theories, clinical symptoms of mental development pathologies in early infancy, and relevant preventive measures. Method: Case report and clinico-theoretical correlation. Results: A case of a 36-month-old boy arriving as an outpatient at the child and adolescent psychiatry consultation with a presumptive diagnosis of autism is presented. The reconstruction of his early history and positive evolution (recovery in areas such as language, contact and relationship with others and oneself) lead to the belief that it is not a case primary autism. Instead, the differential diagnosis of anaclytical depression is considered and what the patient actually presents is a developmental disharmony. Conclusions: There exist conditions that must be provided in early infancy to favor a healthy development of the children’s psyche-soma. Therefore it is important to make health professionals, parents, and care-givers aware of this, in order to prevent some pathologies in infant mental health and the resulting negative implications when such conditions are not provided The presence of autistic symptoms does not always correspond to a diagnosis of primary autism.

Keywords : Autistic disorder; depression; mother-child relations; child development.

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