Application of the methodology “Diagnostics of the mental development of children from birth to three years” in clinical psychology and psychiatry

Abstract

Background. The methodology “Diagnostics of the mental development of children from birth to 3 years” was developed by the team of authors under the guidance of E.O. Smirnova. The methodology is aimed at determining the levels of development of communication, objective activity and play in infants and young children. The experimental nature of the examination procedure and the innovative system of diagnostic parameters, which is interdisciplinary in its nature, determines the interest in it among clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. Objective. The study is meant to assess the possibilities of using the methodology “Diagnosis …” in clinical psychology and psychiatry, as well as to outline the ways to adapt it to the peculiarities of clinical-psychological and psychiatric examination for children at early and preschool age. Method. The study involved children of early and preschool age with verified psychiatric diagnoses. The data were obtained through observation of communication, objective activity and play of children during examination with the “Diagnostics …” method and during psychiatric and clinical-psychological examination. The article presents the qualitative results of the study and their analysis. Results. It was shown that the technique is effective in psychiatric and clinical-psychological examination of children and allows to obtain data that are highly informative and novel. This applies to the parameters of child’s development: initiative and sensitivity in communication, purposefulness of activities, the desire to act according to the model, orientation to the assessment by an adult, speech accompaniment of activities, duration of game, variety of playing actions, imagination, etc. The study also showed that the technique proves to be effective beyond an early age for children, suffering from mental disorders. Conclusion. The results obtained allow us to consider the technique as an adequate tool not only for psychological and pedagogical, but also for clinical-psychological and medical research. At the same time, it is necessary to conduct additional interdisciplinary research in order to adapt this technique for the purposes of scientific and practical application in clinical psychology and psychiatry.