Early Behavioral Intervention for Preterm Infants — EBI  

Premature Birth Clinical Trial

Official title: FNI Between Mothers and Preschool Age Children

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Family Nurture Intervention in preschool aged children between 2.5 and 4.5 years of age who were born prematurely and exhibit developmental deficits. The new approach is based on improving aspects of maternal nurturing behaviors as well as mother-child co-regulation, which are important to early development. Since young children with developmental deficits are often easily upset, mothers will be taught how to co-regulate with their child through comfort and calming interactions during 11 clinic visits. Assessments in the follow-up clinic will test the immediate and long-term effects of this new approach to the nurture of children who were born early and demonstrate developmental problems and behavioral problems.

Clinical Trial Description

Mother-infant interactions are the foundation for the organization of the infant's neurobiological, sensory, perceptual, emotional, physical, and relational systems (Hofer, 1987). For the developing infant, one of the most critical sources of regulatory input is through contact with the mother and her nurturing behavior. The infant's responses to the mother provide feedback that shapes her behavior as well. There are many co-regulatory processes embedded in these synchronous and reciprocal interactions which cross neurophysiological and neurobehavioral domains (Als, 1999). A necessary but detrimental separation between mother and infant is created at a critical period when mother-infant co-regulation should be developing. Regardless of NICU or well-baby nursery care, the physiological challenges associated with being born too soon, along with disturbances in normal mother-infant interactions are key factors underlying the risks of early and late preterm infants for a broad range of early and midlife disorders (DeBoer, et al., 1984 if this does not include late preterm, find another reference). This study compares common early interventions such as occupational, physical, and speech therapy with a Family Nurture Intervention (FNI), instituted at age 3 to 4 for preschool aged children with developmental delays. This is a developmental time point at which delays including deficits in emotion regulation, language, cognition, and attention are identifiable. The investigators hypothesize that the Family Nurture Intervention will alter a wide range of physiological regulatory capacities and will result in improved indices of mother psychological and child neurobehavioral outcomes. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Premature Birth

• NCT number: NCT02379130
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Columbia University
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 2015
• Completion date: May 2016