Use of the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood: Revised Edition (DC:0-3R) with Canadian Infants and Young Children Prenatally Exposed to Substances

The current study examined the mental health diagnostic profiles of infants and young children prenatally exposed to substances using the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood, Revised (DC:0–3R) diagnostic system. Participants were 46 biological mother–infant dyads who were engaged in a clinical program for mothers with substance‐use problems and their young children (aged 10–41 months). Diagnostic information was reported for each of the five axes listed in the DC:0–3R diagnostic system based on file reviews. In addition, the children's socioemotional and adaptive behaviors were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist, Infant–Toddler Social Emotional Assessment, the Social‐Emotional Scale, and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (2nd ed.). In this sample of young children with prenatal substance exposure, a broad range of socioemotional symptoms were evident, with almost one third of the children meeting criteria for at least one Axis I mental health diagnosis. In addition, the majority of dyads demonstrated features of a disordered relationship. Children in more problematic relationships demonstrated higher levels of socioemotional and adaptive functioning difficulties and were more likely to have an Axis I diagnosis than were children in adapted relationships. The importance of early intervention efforts aimed at infants with prenatal substance exposure and their biological mothers is highlighted, with a particular focus on enhancing the quality of the mother–child relationship. El presente estudio examinó perfiles de diagnóstico de salud mental de infantes y niños pequeños expuestos prenatalmente a sustancias usando el sistema de diagnóstico (DC): 0‐3R. Participaron 46 díadas de madre biológica‐infante que formaban parte de un programa clínico para madres con problemas de abuso de sustancias y sus niños pequeños (edad: 10 a 41 meses). La información de diagnóstico fue reportada en función de cada uno de los cinco ejes enumerados en el sistema de diagnóstico DC: 0‐3R basándose en revisiones de los expedientes. Además, se evaluaron las conductas socio‐emocional y adaptiva de los niños usando la Lista de Conducta del Niño, La Evaluación Socio‐Emocional del Infante, la Escala Socio‐Emocional, y el Sistema de Evaluación de Conducta Adaptiva‐Segunda Edición. En este grupo de niños pequeños expuestos prenatalmente a sustancias fue evidente una amplia gama de síntomas socio‐emocionales, co