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Case study: maternal residual attention deficit disorder associated with failure to thrive in a two-month-old infant
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Insights
Maternal attention deficit disorder can impact infant feeding and growth. Treating the mother's condition with methylphenidate improved infant outcomes and maternal-child interaction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Maternal Mental Health
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) in infants necessitates comprehensive evaluation.
- Organic causes for FTT were ruled out in this case.
- Maternal psychological factors can influence infant well-being.
Observation:
- An infant presented with recurrent failure to thrive.
- A pediatric inpatient psychiatry consultation was initiated.
- The mother was diagnosed with residual attention deficit disorder.
Findings:
- Maternal inattention and impulsivity impaired infant feeding.
- Methylphenidate treatment for the mother's ADHD showed positive effects.
- Infant feeding improved, leading to weight gain and better maternal-child interaction.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of assessing maternal mental health in infant FTT.
- Suggests ADHD treatment in mothers can positively impact infant outcomes.
- Underscores the link between maternal executive function and infant caregiving.
Abstract:
A male infant was admitted twice during his second month of life for failure to thrive. An extensive organic workup was unremarkable. During the second admission, the pediatric inpatient psychiatry team was consulted. Evaluation led to the diagnosis of residual attention deficit disorder in the mother. Inattention and impulsivity hampered mother's ability to feed the child. Successful treatment of mother's residual attention deficit disorder with methylphenidate led to significant improvement in the infant's feeding, subsequent weight gain, and observed maternal-child interaction.