Psychotherapy and Research: An Anaclitic Depression

Social withdrawal behaviour in infants is a key indicator of child distress and a risk factor for later pathologies. The present study provides results from a Moroccan study of the ADBB scale applied to two populations that were very different in terms of early separation experiences: babies living in a children’s home (n=46) and babies raised by their families (n=56). These 102 infants were assessed using the ADBB scale during routine paediatric check-ups between the ages of 2 and 18 months. Social withdrawal behaviour was significantly more marked among infants raised in a children’s home than among infants raised by their family, and more so among boys than among girls. This study comprising a control group confirmed the validity of Spitz’s description, which placed social withdrawal at the centre of anaclitic depression and of the causes of hospitalism, and attributed this withdrawal to the infants’ early and prolonged separation from their caregivers. The use of the scale stay therefore be recommended for systematic detection during routine paediatric check-ups or for the follow-up of children at risk, to enable appropriate early interventions to take place.

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The Reaction to Separation in Infant Monkeys: Anaclitic Depression and Conservation-Withdrawal

Psychosomatic Medicine ◽

10.1097/00006842-196711000-00010 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 648-675 ◽

Cited By ~ 221

Author(s):

CHARLES I. KAUFMAN ◽

LEONARD A. ROSENBLUM

Keyword(s):

Anaclitic Depression

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Anaclitic Depression in the Elderly

Psychiatric Annals ◽

10.3928/0048-5713-19830901-04 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 691-696

Author(s):

Walter A Keckich ◽

Mitchell Young

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Anaclitic Depression

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From anaclitic Depression to “Toughness” in an infant male Twin

Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae ◽

10.1017/s1120962300016413 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 134-144

Author(s):

Justin D. Call

Keyword(s):

Present Report ◽

Depressive Illness ◽

Object Loss ◽

Twin Sister ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Male Twin ◽

Infant Male ◽

Defensive Denial ◽

Anaclitic Depression

SUMMARYThe present report is of an infant male twin (Don) who developed a depressive illness with onset at 8½ months of age. At 22 months of age, Don's depressive expression and attitude gave way to an expression of toughness which was rewarded by the mother's increased attention to him when he would show his « though look ». Such a transformation of affect in Don is understood as partly adaptational (object capturing), partly defensive (denial of object loss), and partly characterological (counter-phobic attitudes developed). The twin sister, Donna, toward whom the mother was much closer, was spared such an illness. The presence of depression in Don and the lack of it in Donna is understood on the basis of interrelated experiential and constitutional (genetic and maturational) factors in development.The study is reported in order to illustrate the use of twins in the exploration of differences, both constitutional and environmental, which surround development in boys and girls, while the parents's stage of development remains constant.

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ANACLITIC DEPRESSION IN AN INFANT RAISED IN AN INSTITUTION

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0002-7138(09)62157-9 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 545-553 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Robert N. Emde ◽

Paul R. Polak ◽

René A. Spitz

Keyword(s):

Anaclitic Depression

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