Complementarity between PREAUT grid and IRDI in the analysis of psychic risk at nine months of age and its relationship with gestational age

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Compare the level of statistical agreement between the PREAUT grid and the clinical indicators of risk/reference to child development (IRDI) in the identification of risk, and analyze the frequency of psychic risk considering the variable gestational age.

Methods

The sample consisted of 80 infants, 55 full term and 25 preterm, considering the corrected age. All infants who presented any genetic syndrome, neurological lesions, or sensory deficits were excluded from the study. The IRDI and the PREAUT grid, in addition to a semi-structured interview, were used as data collection instruments. The statistical analysis evaluated the degree of agreement between the PREAUT grid and IRDI levels considering the Kappa coefficient agreement.

Results

Perfect agreement was observed in the identification of individuals with psychic risk in both protocols at nine months of age, although this identification is due to different phenomena. The frequency of psychic risk in preterm infants was higher (24%) than that in full term infants (20%). Considerable psychic risk was observed in the sample studied (21.25%) at nine months of age.

Conclusion

Complete agreement was observed between both protocols in the identification of psychic risk at nine months of age, whose frequency was important in the studied sample.

Keywords
Psychoanalysis; Child Development; Prematurity; Autism; Mother-child Relations

RESUMO

Objetivo

Comparar o nível de concordância estatística entre os Sinais PREAUT e os Indicadores Clínicos de Risco/Referência ao Desenvolvimento Infantil (IRDI) na identificação de risco e analisar a frequência de risco psíquico considerando a variável idade gestacional.

Método

A amostra total contou com 80 bebês, sendo 55 bebês nascidos a termo e 25 bebês nascidos pré-termo, considerando a idade corrigida. Foram excluídos todos os bebês que apresentaram qualquer espécie de síndrome genética, lesões neurológicas ou déficits sensoriais. O IRDI e os Sinais PREAUT, além de uma entrevista semiestruturada foram utilizados como instrumento de coleta de dados. A análise estatística avaliou o grau de concordância entre os Sinais PREAUT e o IRDI a partir do coeficiente de concordância kappa.

Resultados

Foi observada uma concordância perfeita na identificação de sujeitos em ambos protocolos aos nove meses, embora essa identificação se dê por sinais fenomênicos distintos. A frequência de risco psíquico em bebês prematuros foi superior (24%) à frequência em bebês nascidos a termo (20%). O risco psíquico foi considerável na amostra estudada aos nove meses (21,25%).

Conclusão

Houve uma concordância total entre ambos os protocolos na identificação de risco psíquico aos nove meses, cuja frequência foi importante na amostra estudada.

Descritores
Psicanálise; Desenvolvimento Infantil; Prematuridade; Autismo; Relações Mãe-filho

INTRODUCTION

The identification of developmental and psychic risk from the first months of life has been widely investigated by researchers who consider mother-infant interactions, especially in relation to initial protoconversations such as the use of motherese^(1-6). They consider these interactions as “catalysts” for communication development, affecting and regulating the arousal and attention of infants, facilitating the perception of speech and understanding of language, especially the communication of affection ⁽⁵⁾.

In the case of infants who will later develop autism, this preference for the maternal voice is not evidenced, hindering the baby’s engagement in the intersubjective relation, possibly for deficits in the subcortical processing of emotion in voice⁽⁷⁾. Even so, parents of these children use motherese even more significantly than parents of typical babies⁽¹⁾ in an attempt to actively adapt to their children's lack of responsiveness. These results are obtained⁽⁶⁾ when analyzing the relationship between infant and adult caregiver behaviors through the Infant Caregiver Behavior Scale (ICSB) and the comparative analysis of family videos of babies who became autistic or developed intellectual disability. Parents of babies who later became autistic over-stimulated their babies.

The observation of this type of limitation in family videos of babies interacting with parents and who were diagnosed as autistic after three years of age guided the formulation of the PREAUT grid⁽⁸⁾. The researchers observed that the third moment of the drive circuit did not take place in either one of the three different drive registers (scopic, oral or invocative) ⁽⁹⁾. These signs allowed psychic risk to be identified by the lack of response to motherese. In the most severe cases, there was no gaze contact between the dyad, while in milder cases, the baby did not summon the adult, even though there was a response to the motherese and gaze exchange. The sensitivity of these signs for the identification of autism was confirmed by a study⁽⁴⁾ that accompanied 25 children with West syndrome up to 24 months, when they were compared to the results obtained through M-CHAT. The study has shown that PREAUT grid was productive in the identification of babies with risk for autism. A recent study⁽¹⁰⁾ suggests that autism originates in prenatal failure in the development of systems that program timing, serial motor coordination, prospective control of movements, and control of affective regulation of experiences.

In the present study, for those cases with an intermediate score between five and 15 in the PREAUT grid, the hypothesis is that the analysis of the IRDI script can help in understanding risk of a non-autistic nature. The IRDI protocol has been used in Brazilian research⁽¹¹⁾ to demonstrate a correlation between risk and presence of altered maternal mood ⁽¹²⁾; difficulties with the constitution of the maternal role⁽¹³⁾; prolongation of breastfeeding and difficulties in food transition⁽¹⁴⁾; low speech production between 13 and 16 months⁽¹⁵⁾; outcome of language problems^(16-18) and difficulties in the construction of body image⁽¹⁹⁾. Psychic risk, identified by the IRDI, has also been shown to be associated with socioeconomic, obstetric, demographic and psychosocial factors⁽²⁰⁾. These studies confirm the importance of IRDI in the early detection of psychic suffering and in the prevention of changes in child development and the development of severe psychopathologies.

Among the obstetric variables, prematurity is a biological factor that directly affects psychic risk and as such it was chosen as the object of investigation in the present study. Prematurity can affect the conditions of CNS maturation and physical development as a biological risk factor related to psychic and cognitive factors, thus having consequences for child development ^(21,22). In addition, research has sought to highlight the consequences of prematurity on the maturation and development of the baby as opposed to those with gestational age greater than 37 weeks⁽²³⁾.

The present article reports partial results of a study that focuses on the complementarity between the PREAUT grid and IRDI in the identification of the presence of risk in the process of child development and psychic constitution, besides the analysis of prematurity as a risk factor in child development and the process of psychic constitution. The objectives of the present study are to compare the level of statistical agreement between PREAUT grid and IRDI in the identification of risk and to analyze the frequency of psychic risk considering the variable gestational age.

METHODS

This study adopts statistical instruments⁽²⁴⁾ to present a prospective cohort, since it followed preterm and full term infants between the first three and nine months of life, considering the presence or absence of psychic risk, from the application of the two protocols and the observation of the mother-infant interactive process. The analysis concentrated on the agreement between both protocols at nine months, when psychic risk can be identified consistently. This is because with the three phases analyzed in the IRDI, it is possible to confirm the presence of risk, which depends on the absence of two or more indicators and the persistence of this absence in two or more phases. This script, unlike the PREAUT Signals, does not have a score already indicated in the first phase.

This study is linked to a research project carried out in a Basic Health Unit (BHU) and a University Hospital (UH), located in the Camobi neighborhood of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. In these two outpatient clinics, infants born preterm and full term were accompanied from one to 24 months.

The research project which encompasses this study was authorized in May 2014 by the Ethics and Health Research Committee (HRC) of the University under number CAE 28586914.0.0000.5346. Therefore, the research complied with the norms regulated by Resolution 466/2012 (BRAZIL Resolution nº 466, of December 12, 2012), passed by the Health Research Council of the University and the City Health Department.

The total sample consisted of 80 babies, 55 of whom were born full term and 25 preterm (with gestational age less than 37 weeks)⁽²⁵⁾, which were evaluated in the protocols considering the corrected age. Among the full term babies, there were 29 males and 26 females. Among the infants born preterm, 14 were female and 11 were male.

The size of the initial sample included infants who had completed nine months by the end of the data collection period for the PhD dissertation on which this article is based. All data collection with preterm babies considered the corrected age⁽²²⁾, calculated with the subtraction of the difference between 40 weeks and gestational age at birth.

The study included all mothers whose full term or preterm infants were less than one month old between August 2014 and May 2015 and were seen at least one of two infant care units: the Newborn Screening sector at the BHU, which receives about 150 newborn babies annually for pediatric follow-up, and the extreme premature follow-up sector of the UH.

All infants with genetic syndromes (Down syndrome, X-fragile, etc.), chronic non-progressive encephalopathy, or sensory deficits such as deafness or visual impairment, were considered not eligible. This exclusion criterion was guaranteed in preterm infants based on the assessment that the follow-up of UH preterm infants performed when they were screened. When suspected to have any sensory or other organic limitations based on the physical assessment by the pediatricians at the BHU, full term infants were referred for medical examination and their data excluded from the sample.

The research did not pose physical or moral risks to the participants, since the tests performed by the team are simple and non-invasive procedures, and can contribute to the early identification of risk for communication and interaction disorders. The only inconvenience was returning to the place of evaluation to participate in filming and answer evaluations and questionnaires. The family members were motivated to participate as the project would observe the development of the children and provide treatment when necessary.

Collection instruments and procedures

The first contact with the babies and their relatives, especially the mother, occurred at the Newborn Screening sector of the BHU and the extreme premature follow-up sector of the UH. At that moment, the mothers received information regarding the objectives and procedures of the study. Next, the Free and Informed Consent Term (FICT) was read to them, including the research objectives, the risks involved, voluntary nature of participation, confidentiality regarding their identity and their right to withdraw from the process at any time during the study. On the same day, the semi-structured interview was conducted with the mother.

Three additional meetings were scheduled in which the dyads were filmed. Their interaction was evaluated using IRDI and the PREAUT grid and a baby data retrieval was performed regarding possible changes in the routine of the baby or family.

The four meetings for data collection took place at: One month of age (first contact, signing of the FICT and semi-structured interview); Four months age range or PREAUT and IRDI phase I (between three months and one day and four months and 29 days); Six months age range or IRDI phase II (between five months and one day and six months and 29 days); and Nine months age range or PREAUT and IRDI phase III (between eight months and one day and nine months and 29 days).

During these meetings, the dyad interaction was observed using the IRDI and PREAUT grid. Next, the baby and mother were invited to stay in a quiet room to interact on an EVA rug and the interaction was filmed by two digital cameras, one placed one meter away with a lateral view of the dyad and the other two meters away. The baby was placed sitting in their own chair and the mother facing a mirror behind the baby, allowing the cameras to have a frontal view of the baby and of the maternal reflection in the mirror. Three moments were considered in the first two evaluations (three and six months): three minutes of singing, three minutes of free interaction and three minutes with a toy. At the nine-month evaluation, the baby was sitting on the rug and free to move around. The videodata alowed for the PREAUT and IRDI scores assigned by the researcher to be revised by the main supervisor of the study.

The IRDI results revised in the videodata were recorded as presence or absence of indicators in an Excel bank. In relation to both PREAUT phases, the obtained sum was identified and registered in the same bank. The analysis presented here considered results obtained in IRDI phases I, II and III and those obtained with the PREAUT grid in the nine-month range (eight months and one day to nine months and 29 days).

For the statistical analysis, all infants in the nine-month age group who had absence of at least two indicators of the IRDI script and less than 15 points in the PREAUT grid were classified as at risk. Comparative analysis between the IRDI and the PREAUT grid issues were performed individually for those infants with scores below 15 in the PREAUT grid.

The data-collection instruments were used as described in the following section.

Semi-structured interview

The semi-structured interview script used by the research group in a previous study ⁽²⁰⁾ was adapted for this study in order to capture psychosocial, sociodemographic and obstetric factors. Through questions presented to the mother, the interview obtained psychosocial data, such as gestational planning and family support, obstetric data, such as prenatal procedures, type of delivery and intercurrences, and sociodemographic data, such as age, schooling, marital status, maternal and paternal profession and number of siblings. The interview was conducted in two meetings with the dyads: when the babies were within the age range of four months and when the babies were in the age range of nine months. The interviews were performed on the same occasions in which the PREAUT and IRDI were used with the purpose of verifying changes during the first nine months of the baby's life.

IRDI-clinical indicators of child development risk

The IRDI protocol is composed of 31 indicators during the first 18 months of the child's life to observe the presence of psychic risk or child development problems. It is divided into four phases: Phase I (until four months), Phase II (four to eight months incomplete), Phase III (eight to 12 months incomplete) and Phase IV (12 to 18 months).

For the present study, IRDI was used in its reduced version, which consists of 18 indicators, 14 of which refer to Phases I, II and III. Its reduced version was used, considering the multifactorial analysis of the multicentric research of the Ministério da Saúde presented at the Escola de Saúde Pública do Rio Grande do Sul⁽²⁶⁾. This study evidenced statistically significant relationships between the psychic constitution and the emergence of instrumental aspects of the development of the baby identified in this reduced version.

The 14 indicators allow an evaluation of infants up to the first nine months of life, regarding the presence or absence of risks and, in turn, could verify the presence of difficulties in the development of children concerning subjective constitution. Chart 1 shows the four phases evaluated in IRDI.

Chart 1
Indicators in IRDI - reduced version

PHASES	INDICATORS	AXIS
PHASE I 0-4 months incomplete	1. When the child cries or screams, the mother knows what she wants.	SA/ED
	2. The mother speaks in a style particularly directed to the child (motherese ).	SA
	3. The child reacts to the motherese.	ED
	4. The mother proposes something to the child and waits for the use of the reaction.	PA
	5. There are exchanges of looks between the child and the mother.	SA/PA
PHASE II 4-8 months incomplete	6. The child uses different signs to express different needs.	ED
	7. The child reacts (smiles, vocalizes) when the mother or another person addresses them.	ED
	8. The child actively seeks the mother's gaze.	ED/PA
PHASE III 8-12 months incomplete	9. The mother realizes that some requests from the child may be a way to get her attention.	ED/SA
	10. During the body care, the child actively seeks games and love plays with the mother.	ED
	11. Mother and child share a particular language.	SA/PA
	12. The child shows estrangement from unknown people.	PF
	13. The child makes cute faces.	ED
	14. The child accepts semi-solid, solid and varied feeding.	ED
PHASE IV 12-18 months incomplete	15. The mother alternates moments of dedication to the child with other interests.	ED/PF
	16. The child supports the mother's brief absences and responds to prolonged absences.	ED/PF
	17. The mother no longer feels obliged to satisfy everything the child asks for.	PF
	18. Parents place small rules of behavior for the child.	PF

• SA = “Subject assumption” axis; ED = “establishment of the demand” axis; PA = “Presence-absence alternation”; PF = “Paternal function” axis. Source: Kupfer et al.⁽26⁾

The indicators shown in Chart 1 and observed from the mother-baby interaction in the researcher's meetings with the dyad were evaluated and indicated when present or absent.

PREAUT grid

The purpose of the PREAUT grid is to evaluate the closure of the drive circuit, based on the baby’s ability to spontaneously engage in synchronized and joyful interactions with the mother. Two signs are evaluated in the intersubjective relation of the mother-baby dyad: Communicative sign 1 (S1) as the baby seeks to be looked at by the mother (or substitute) in the absence of any request from her; and Communicative sign 2 (S2) as the baby tries to provoke a joyful interaction with the mother (or substitute) in the absence of any request from her ⁽²⁷⁾.

Communicative signs were observed firstly in the mother-baby interaction and later in the interaction between the researcher and the dyad. It should be noted that in cases where the mother did not interact with her baby during the evaluation period, the researcher asked her to talk to the baby as she would if they were at home. From the observation of the dyad and subsequent analysis of the videodata, a value was assigned to each answer given to the questions in the PREAUT grid. When the sum was equal to 15, the risk for autism was considered absent, while a score below 15 indicated the presence of risk to be either moderate (between five and 14) or serious (less than five). Chart 2 shows the PREAUT grid⁽²⁸⁾.

Chart 2
PREAUT grid

First part of the questionnaire – 4th and 9th months
1. Does the baby seek to look at you?
a) Spontaneously.	YES	4
	NO	0
b) When you speak to him (proto-conversation).	YES	1
	NO	0
2. Does the baby seek to have the mother’s (or substitute) attention?
a) Without any solicitation from her by making noise, or moving while staring at her.	YES	8
	NO	0
b) When she speaks to him (proto-conversation).	YES	2
	NO	0
TOTAL SCORE
If the score is greater than three at 4th month or greater than five at 9th month, do not reply to questions three and four
Second part of the questionnaire – 4th and 9th months
3. Without any stimulation by the mother (or substitute):
a) Does the baby look at the mother (or substitute)	YES	1
	NO	0
b) Does the baby smile at the mother (or substitute)	YES	2
	NO	0
c) Does the baby try to have an exciting exchange with the mother (or substitute), for example by giving her or extending toes or hands to be kissed or sucked?	YES	4
	NO	0
4. After being stimulated by the mother (or substitute):
a) Does the baby look at the mother (or substitute)	YES	1
	NO	0
b) Does the baby smile at the mother (or substitute)	YES	2
	NO	0
c) Does the baby try to have an exciting exchange with the mother (or substitute), for example by giving her or extending toes or hands to be kissed or sucked?	YES	4
	NO	0
TOTAL SCORE

• Source: Olliac et al.⁽28⁾

Statistical analysis of the data

The data collected for the 80 babies were transferred to an Excel spreadsheet and recurrently updated according to each of the three evaluated stages of the babies. Then, descriptive statistics were obtained to verify the degree of correspondence between the IRDI and the PREAUT grid in the sample studied, using the kappa concordance coefficient and considering 10% as a level of significance. Each of the PREAUT signs was verified in relation to the 14 indicators considered in the research. These results were interpreted from the following relation of the values ​​of the kappa coefficient⁽²⁹⁾:

• Degree of almost perfect agreement = 0.81-1.00;

• Degree of substantial agreement = 0.61-0.80;

• Degree of moderate agreement = 0.41-0.60;

• Degree of regular agreement = 0.21-0.40;

• Degree of small agreement = between 0 and 0.20; and

• Poor agreement degree = 0.

RESULTS

The PREAUT results at four and nine months, used as reference values for comparison with the IRDI are shown in Table 1 .

Table 1
PREAUT Grid in the 4th and 9th month considering gestational age

	Number of babies at risk	Total score of infants at risk
		13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	3	2
PHASE I (4th month)
Premature (n=25)	15 (60%)				1		2	9	1	1		1
Full term (n=55)	27 (49%)		2			1	2	15	1	2	2	2
Total (n=80)	42 (52.5%)		2		1	1	4	24	2	3	2	3
PHASE III (9th month)
Premature (n=25)	6 (24%)			1				4	1
Full term (n=55)	11 (20%)					1		9		1
Total (n=80)	17 (21.25%)			1		1		13	1	1

• Source: Authors

PREAUT scores equal to or lower than 15 indicate the need for a more detailed evaluation of the baby, since they may indicate a serious risk to development⁽⁸⁾. In this regard, the evaluation of the four month age group demanded attention since 42 infants (52.5%) in the first phase of application presented altered signs. Although full term and preterm infants equally presented signs of immature development before reaching four months of age at the time of the first evaluation, the presence of psychic risk in preterm infants was 11% higher than in those born full term.

The evaluation of the PREAUT grid at nine months, showing a considerable decrease in the number of babies with alterations (21.25%), was more precise due to greater maturity of the babies. In the first phase, there were eight cases (10%) of scores of five or less, and none in the second phase, while the IRDI evaluation detected a higher percentage of babies presenting risk to psychic constitution, but not specific for autism risk, in this second phase.

Table 2 shows scores for the IRDI protocol, indicating the absent indicators in babies up to nine months considering gestational age. Longitudinal results along three phases corroborate the hypothesis that the evaluation at nine months allows for a more accurate analysis of infant psychic structuring, considering the results of both protocols.

Table 2
Frequency of absent indicators in the IRDI up to nine months considering gestational age

	Babys at risk	2 IRDI absent	3 IRDI absent	4 IRDI absent	5 IRDI absent	7 IRDI absent	8 IRDI absent
Premature (n=25)	6 (24%)	1		3	2
Full term (n=55)	11 (20%)	1		1	4	3	2
Total (n=80)	17 (21.25%)	2	0	4	6	3	2

• 14 indicators evaluated. Source: Authors

Agreement between IRDI and the PREAUT grid was also found for the scores at four months of age, as shown in Table 3 . The IRDI of phase I presented a kappa coefficient of agreement equal to .775, which is a substantial value in relation to the PREAUT grid evaluated in the same period. The PREAUT 4A sign (“The child looks at the mother (or substitute)” presented a kappa coefficient of agreement equal to .771 in relation to IRDI-7 (“The child reacts (smiles, vocalizes) when the mother or another person is addressing them”), at six-month age range.

Table 3
Kappa concordance coefficient for presence of risk in the PREAUT Grid at 4th month and IRDI Phases I and II

	PHASE I						PHASE II
	Presence of risk	1	2	3	4	5	Presence of risk	6	7	8
PREAUT	0.775	0.438	0.135	0.227	0.510	0.160	0.412	0.087	0.068	0.294
1-A	0.235	0.130	0.013	0.399	0.384	0.584	0.167	0.408	0.117	-
1-B	0.052	0.134	-	0.104	0.113	0.422	0.032	-	-	0.052
2-A	0.775	0.438	0.135	0.227	0.510	0.160	0.412	0.087	0.068	0.294
2-B	0.442	0.450	0.120	0.456	0.513	0.524	0.513	0.306	0.146	0.355
3-A	-	-	0.021	0.078	-	0.063	-	-	0.013	-
3-B	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3-C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4-A	-	-	-	0.410	-	0.486	-	0.066	0.771	0.126
4-B	-	-	0.230	0.671	-	0.548	-	0.278	0.070	-
4-C	-	-	0.068	0.240	-	0.197	0.015	0.126	0.043	0.086

• Source: Authors

A high kappa coefficient of agreement of .744 was also obtained with the IRDI of phase III and the PREAUT grid verified at nine months of age, as shown in Table 4 .

Table 4
Kappa concordance coefficient for presence of risk in the PREAUT grid at 9th month and IRDI Phase III

	FASE III
	Presence of risk	9	10	11	12	13	14
PREAUT	0.744	0.543	-	0.084	0.497	0.722	0.307
1-A	0.090	-0.024	-	-0.013	-0.022	0.122	-0.020
1-B	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2-A	0.800	0.507	-	0.113	0.623	0.777	0.398
2-B	0.146	0.125	-	-0.019	0.367	0.201	0.552
3-A	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3-B	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3-C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4-A	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4-B	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4-C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

• Source: Authors

An even higher kappa agreement coefficient (.800) was found between IRDI phase III and PREAUT 2A sign (“The baby seeks to have the mother’s (or substitute) attention without any solicitation from her by making noise, or moving while staring at her”) and (.777) between PREAUT 2A sign and IRDI-13 (“The child makes cute faces”), both indicators of a third moment of the drive circuit.

Both Tables 3 and 4 show a grid combining PREAUT and IRDI factors. Except for signal 2A, the IRDI (considering the 18-indicator version) and the PREAUT factors demonstrate an insufficient or moderate kappa agreement coefficient.

Table 5 illustrates the descriptive analysis of the seventeen subjects who presented signs of risk to psychic constitution at nine months by the IRDI script, considering at least two absent factors, and by the PREAUT grid, considering a score lower than 15. Among the 80 babies involved in the study, only one presented a score equal to five, an indication of autistic psychic risk. In general, intermediate PREAUT scores demonstrate signs of non-autistic psychic risk when compared to absent IRDI.

Table 5
Description of the number of Indicators absent and sum of PREAUT Grid in seventeen subjects with risk at nine months

Subjects	IRDI Phase I n absent	IRDI Phase II n absent	IRDI Phase III n absent	TOTAL	PREAUT Grid 4h month	PREAUT Grid 9th month
T06	2	2	3	7	9	9
T23	3	1	4	8	12	7
T27	3	3	1	7	2	7
T29	2	2	1	5	5	7
T 38	2	1	2	5	6	7
T47	1	1	2	4	7	7
T63	2	3	2	7	7	7
T 65	3	1	4	8	3	5
T74	3	1	1	5	8	7
T76	0	1	1	2	15	7
T112	2	1	2	5	7	7
P18	1	0	1	2	7	11
P19	0	2	3	5	15	6
P24	2	1	1	4	8	7
P33	2	0	2	4	7	7
P35	2	0	2	4	15	7
P40	1	1	3	5	7	7

• Source: Authors

DISCUSSION

The present research springs from the interest in analyzing any existing complementarity between the PREAUT⁽²⁸⁾ grid and the IRDI in order to study the capacity of each instrument to evaluate psychic risk and infant development, taking into account the prematurity that may affect these results.

The question that drives this research refers to the extent to which both instruments present similarities and differences and the productivity in using them simultaneously, since the PREAUT grid puts greater emphasis on the risk of progression to autism^(8,30) than the IRDI, which, in turn, concentrates on psychic risk of a broader spectrum ^(11-20). The results presented in this analysis indicate high agreement between the two, especially for the nine-month age group, demonstrating that they indicate psychic risk in a similar way. This confirms the efficacy of both instruments which has been shown in previous studies^(4,8,11-20).

In the nine-month age group, all the infants who presented a final sum in the PREAUT grid of less than 15 presented at least two absent indicators in the IRDI script. The results of the kappa concordance coefficient show a high correlation index between the two protocols, suggesting that they are both sensitive to signs of risk in the psychic constitution of babies.

However, the most important thing to note is that when each PREAUT sign was compared to each indicator of the IRDI script in the same phase, the kappa coefficient was low in all cases except for indicator 13 in relation to PREAUT sign 2A. Although each instrument considers different criteria based on psychoanalytical theory, they have both led to similar results in terms of the existence of risk in the process of psychic constitution of the baby.

For detection of psychic risk, the age of nine months seems to be the best period due to the high levels of coincidence between both protocols. This age could also be seen as a threshold for a more effective follow-up of the baby in case the baby has not been previously examined. However, in cases of autistic risk, earlier intervention would be more effective^,5-6 as demonstrated by Laznik’s clinical reports of infants younger than six months ^(9,30). In the Brazilian Unified Health System, the use of both instruments may be an important support in first year infant healthcare practices.

In line with the literature^(21-23), the present results indicate that prematurity is a biological factor that directly affects the psyche and mother-child relationship, and thus may have consequences for child development.

Two other key points emerge from the study. The first is that although both instruments capture signs of problems in psychic structuring and child development, they rely on distinct phenomenal signs due to specificities in each instrument. The second point is that both IRDI-13 (“The child makes cute faces”) and PREAUT 2A (“The baby seeks the mother’s (or substitute) attention without any solicitation by making noise or moving while staring at the mother”) demonstrate the third moment of the drive circuit.

The psychoanalytic orientation common to both instruments does not give them diagnostic value, therefore there is a need for an evaluation in transference so that more accurate information about the suffering of child and family can guide the choice of the direction of intervention ^(19,20). Due to their distinct phenomenological nature, complementarity of IRDI and PREAUT grid may be productive in psychic risk detection as intervention scripts in infant healthcare depending on the severity of the psychological suffering existent^(8,19,26).

The process of psychic constitution is evidenced by the bond established between the caregiver and the baby. For this reason, the PREAUT grid and the IRDI rely on the initial dyad interaction, providing signs that demonstrate the need for a clinical analytical interpretation. Thus, there is a need for careful training of health care professionals to observe psychic constitution so that they understand the difference between risk and diagnosis, as reported by the PREAUT study in France⁽⁸⁾. Nevertheless, insertion of instruments into the health system is not enough, it is necessary to organize teams for early detection and intervention that support the primary care teams⁽⁹⁾.

CONCLUSION

Considering the frequency of psychic risk in a sample of 25 preterm and 55 full term babies, both groups presented significant risk at nine months, demonstrating that the nine-month age range is fundamental for the analysis of psychic risk. Among the 80 babies involved in the study, 17 did not overcome the risk until this age group, as evidenced by both the PREAUT grid and IRDI. In this age group, the agreement between IRDI and PREAUT grid was important, even though different phenomenal factors are considered.

In view of these conclusions, the present study presents certain limitations related to parents' difficulties in participating, since some of them did not understand that such evaluation would be beneficial for early intervention when necessary. The team sought to monitor each baby every six months up to the age of two, both full term and preterm infants, and in cases where they presented signs of risk from the age of nine months, parents were offered one of two intervention possibilities: individual or in a group based on music intervention.

• Study conducted at Programa de Pós-graduação de Distúrbios da Comunicação Humana, Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM - Santa Maria (RS), Brasil.
• Financial support: nothing to declare.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Oct 2018
• Date of issue
  2018

History

• Received
  26 May 2017
• Accepted
  04 June 2018