The Growth and Development of the Prematurely Born Infant.

Abstract

There is a resurgence of research on developmental processes of early childhood. Diverse multidisciplinary investigations are<i>modi operandi</i>in the search for physical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic factors influencing growth and development during the prenatal, paranatal, and postnatal periods. In this book under review, C. M. Drillien brings together a series of studies carried out in Edinburgh to study the effects of prematurity on: (1) developmental rates in the early years; (2) measures of intelligence at all ages of childhood; and (3) personality development including behavior disorders. To achieve the goals of this research program Drillien planned a longitudinal survey in which data were collected around the time of delivery, when the child was 6 months, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of age. No concerted attempt was made to obtain data of the infant's environment during the first six postnatal months. Follow-up studies reached into