The effects of contingent music and differential reinforcement on infantile colic

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Behavioral Science
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Infantile colic affects 10-40% of infants, presenting as excessive crying and motor activity.
• Current medical understanding lacks clear etiology or established treatments for colic.
• Parents are typically advised to wait for colic to naturally resolve, often over 3-4 months.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel behavioral intervention designed to decrease excessive crying in infants diagnosed with colic.
• To assess the efficacy of a treatment package combining positive reinforcement and time-out procedures.

Main Methods:

• A within-subject reversal design was employed with 8 infants diagnosed with infantile colic.
• Crying behavior was measured via direct observation using 2-minute intervals within hourly samples.
• The intervention involved reinforcing quiet alertness with music and parental attention, alongside a brief time-out for crying.

Main Results:

• The behavioral treatment package resulted in a significant reduction of excessive crying by approximately 75% across all participants.
• A functional relationship was established, demonstrating that crying decreased with treatment introduction, increased upon withdrawal, and decreased again upon reinstatement.

Conclusions:

• The behavioral intervention package is effective in substantially reducing excessive crying in infants with colic.
• This study provides evidence for a functional relationship between the behavioral treatment and the reduction of colic symptoms.
• The findings suggest a viable, non-pharmacological approach for managing infantile colic.