ABSTRACT
Presentaremos reflexiones y puentes conceptuales que surgieron del trabajo de articulación entre los resultados y las experiencias de dos programas de la Facultad de Psicología (UBA) iniciados en 2001: un programa de investigación UBACyT sobre regulación y desregulación afectiva en la primera infancia basado en el microanálisis de observaciones de interacciones lúdicas madre-niño videofilmadas, y un programa de extensión universitaria que se lleva a cabo por docentes y estudiantes en hogares de tránsito de la ciudad de Buenos Aires con niños y adolescentes en situaciones de riesgo social que viven separados de sus familias de origen por intervención judicial. Consideramos que los aportes de nuestras investigaciones sobre regulación afectiva, autorregulación y desregulación en la infancia pueden aplicarse a la comprensión de los posibles efectos disruptivos que la discontinuidad en el sostén parental puede producir en la estructuración psíquica y en las dificultades en el proceso de simbolización. Los resultados de la investigación muestran la influencia de los adultos como agentes de transformación de los afectos disruptivos en el niño. Creemos que estos conocimientos pueden aportar a la creación de recursos de intervención temprana en niños en situaciones de vulnerabilidad social.
In this paper we present reflections and conceptual bridges produced by putting together results and experiences of two programs being conducted by the Faculty of Psychology, Buenos Aires University, initiated in 2001: an UBACyT research program that deals with affect regulation- dysregulation in infancy, based in the analysis of videotaped and microanalysed observations of mother - child play interactions; and an extension community program that is conducted in foster care institutions at Buenos Aires city by teachers and students, where children and adolescents in social risk situations are institutionalized by judicial intervention, separated from their families. We believe that the contribution of our research in affect regulation, self-regulation and dysregulation in infancy can be applied to the understanding of possible disruptive effects that discontinuity in the parental support can produce in psychic structure and in difficulties in the process of symbolization. The results of the research show the influence of adults like agents of transformation of disruptive affects in the child. We believe that this knowledge can contribute to the creation of early intervention resources for children in social risk.
Subject(s)
Humans , Symbolism , Child , Adolescent , AffectABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment effect and predictors of response of affect regulation group therapy (ARGT) delivered to a group of recently traumatized children. METHODS: A total of 464 school children, who had witnessed or confronted a tragic accident at school, were given a single-session of affect regulation group therapy, that which included psychoeducation and affect regulation elements from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Of 213 children whose with initial score of Subject Unit of Disturbance Scale (SUDS) score over 4, we compared pre- and post-treatment scores and performed conducted the responder vs. non-responder comparison. The pPost-traumatic disorder (PTSD) symptom scores measured by using Child Reaction to Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CRTES-R), demographic variables, and clinical variables were considered. RESULTS: Affect regulation group therapy was effective for children who had experienced an acute traumatic event (t=16.3, p<0.001). Baseline SUDS score of for non-responder were was significantly higher (t=-2.89, p<0.001) and CRTES-R score approached a level of significance level (t=-1.72, p=0.09). However, results of logistic regression analysis identified showed that the pretreatment SUDS score was the only significant predictor of non-response. CONCLUSION: Affect regulation group therapy appeared to be effective for children who had undergone experienced an acute traumatic event. And in addition, the survivors' subjective distress was more important to treatment response than severity of PTSD symptoms severity.