Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood in Psychological Practice

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives. </strong>Data collection requires a structure and a consistent algorithm to create a common language for the team of professionals and to support the development of support programs. Work on the approbation of the possibilities of using the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-5) in the comprehensive assessment of the development and condition of the child and his/her immediate environment was carried out.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods. </strong>Over a 12-month period, 48 families with children aged from one month to 4 years 10 months were referred to the Child and Family Mental Health Center “Opening Doors”. Expert assessment was conducted using DC:0-5 and the following methods: observation, assessment of child and close adult relationships; assessment of the emotional state and behavior of adults.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results. </strong>The possibilities of using the DC:0-5 tool were demonstrated on the example of one case from the practice of the center’s specialists: a structured diagnostic report, written in a common language for the team of specialists, included a description of the assessment results in accordance with the algorithm of data collection and structuring of information: cultural aspects; conditions and factors of the child’s physical health; psychosocial and environmental stress factors; developmental competencies and the context of the child’s relationships with close adults. Biological and social risk and protective factors are identified. Risk factors on the part of the adult can be: a suppressed emotional state, difficulties in recognizing the emotional needs and signals of the child and an inappropriate response to them; on the part of the child — a restraint of activity and emotions. In the conclusion, the opinions of specialists about the possibility of clinical disorders in the child are given.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions. </strong>The data obtained with the use of DC:0-5 allows us to formulate the directions of the individual program of support for the child and family fully and clearly. At the next stage of work it is planned to continue the analysis, systematization and description of cases of classification application with the generalization of results.</p>