Parent–infant vocalisations at 12 months predict psychopathology at 7 years

Allely, CS; Purves, D; McConnachie, A; Marwick, H; Johnson, P; Doolin, O; Puckering, C; Golding, J; Gillberg, C; Wilson, P

Abstract

This study investigatedtheutility of adult andinfant vocalisationinthepredictionof child
psychopathology. Familieswere sampledfromtheAvonLongitudinal StudyofParents and
Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort. Vocalisation patterns were obtained from 180 videos (60
cases and 120 randomly selected sex-matched controls) of parent–infant interactions
wheninfantswereone yearold.Caseswere infantswhohadbeensubsequentlydiagnosed
aged seven years, with at least one psychiatric diagnostic categorisation using the
Development and Wellbeing Assessment. Psychopathologies included in the case group
were disruptive behaviour disorders, oppositional-conduct disorders, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, pervasive development disorder, and emotional disorders.
Associations between infant and parent vocalisations and later psychiatric diagnoses
were investigated. Low frequencies of maternal vocalisation predicted later development
of infant psychopathology. A reduction of five vocalisations per minute predicted a 44%
(95%CI: 11–94%; p-value=0.006) increase in the odds of an infant being a case. No
association was observed between infant vocalisations and overall case status. In sum,
altered vocalisation frequency inmother–infantinteractions at one year is a potential risk
marker for later diagnosis of a range of child psychopathologies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Oct 13, 2014
• Journal: Research in Developmental Disabilities
• Print ISSN: 0891-4222
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 985-993
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2012.11.024
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2012.11.024
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/research-in-developmental-disabilities/
• Additional Information: Funders : Medical Research Council,;the Wellcome Trust;University of Bristol currently provide core support for ALSPAC;The Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre;The Yorkhill Children's Foundation