Research

Tracy Magee Funded Projects

Irritable Infant Syndrome: Using a Bi-Directional, Multi-sensory Intervention for Families

Funding Source: National Association of PNP

Dates: 5/1/05 – 4/30/06

Abstract: Irritable infant syndrome (IIS) or colic, affects up to 40% of full term, healthy newborns. IIS has been associated with poor infant behavioral state regulation, ambiguous behavioral cues, later neuro-behavioral disorganization, developmental delays, increased stress, maternal depression, altered mother-infant interaction, and family dysfunction. This study will: 1) collect data on the feasibility and acceptability of an evidenced-based, bi-directional, multi-sensory intervention with infants who have IIS and 2) modify the intervention based on infants' responses.

ATVV has been successful in facilitating behavioral state regulation and clarity of behavioral cues in healthy, premature infants. We hypothesize that in full term infants with IIS, ATVV will facilitate behavioral state regulation, however, we would like to test whether reversing the sequence of ATVV to VVTA (ATV2) better facilitates neuro-behavioral organization (achieving sleep states), maternal psychological well being, mother-infant interaction and stress reduction.

A longitudinal, descriptive, balanced two-group randomized trial design with repeated measures using a convenience sample of 20 mother-infant dyads will be recruited from a large urban medical center. The following measures will be compared pre and post intervention: Infant Behavioral State and Cues Scale, Baby Day Diary, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for infant cortisol, NCAST Feeding Scale and Mini-Dyadic Code (mother-infant interaction), State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and Postpartum Depression Screening Scale. Feasibility will be assessed through documentation of all implementation difficulties and their resolutions and through missing data analysis. Acceptability to mothers and infants will be assessed via a final evaluation interview. Data analysis will include descriptive statistics, correlation techniques, and paired dependent t-tests.

Development of an Objective Measure of Infant Crying

Funding Source: Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS)

Dates: 4/1/06 – 3/31/08

Abstract: While colic, excessive, persistent, paroxysmal crying in an otherwise well infant affects approximately 10% of newborns, crying is the most common compliant of parents in the first year of life affecting up to 40% of families. The problem is the current approach to the diagnosis of colic and the outcomes of colic research are based on subjective data or parental perception of excessive crying via a written cry diary. Recent research suggests that parent perception of infant crying might be influenced by additional features such as unique cry characteristics in addition to crying excessively, which may contribute to the perceptions that the cry is excessive. At present, there is no commonly used objective measure of infant crying. To better understand the differentiation between normal crying and colic, an objective measure of infant crying is needed.

This pilot project is the first part of a two-phased project that will develop and test a procedure for the analysis of infant vocalization to objectively classify infantile crying as normal, excessive, or colic. The data obtained from this feasibility study will be instrumental in the submission of a larger NIH application to will develop automated methods of analysis of infantile vocalization and differentiate perceived excessive crying from colic.