Early intervention and mental health: Evidence from premature and disadvantaged infants

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to examine the data on the potential effect of early childhood interventions on later child and adult mental health. Specifically, it examines the effect of early intervention strategies to prevent or ameliorate of early behavioral problems, potential antecedents of later mental health issues. To maximize the generalizability the review focuses on two general, 'at-risk' groups: disadvantaged children and those born prematurely. Only one study, the Infant Health and Development Study provided long term results to address this question. Like other early interventions in the form of educational centers, home visiting and primary care strategies, care-giver reported behavior problems are reduced in the intervention group by the end of the intervention period. However, none of these approaches appears to confer no long-term effect on behavior problems, and hence, are unlikely to influence any associated mental health diagnoses. Many support an important indirect effect of interventions in decreases in delinquency, incarceration, other high-risk behaviors and welfare dependency. The pathway by which this occurs appears to be greater school success. Thus, an indirect effect may be posited. Despite its importance, little systematic intervention with longitudinal follow-up has addressed the prevention of mental health problems.