Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics 13 Years After the First Board Certification: Evolving Subspecialty.

OBJECTIVE: To examine and define the evolving subspecialty of developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) by analyzing workforce surveys presubspecialty and postsubspecialty certification. METHODS: In 2015, an electronic workforce survey was sent to the members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on DBP and Council on Children with Disabilities and the Society for DBP. Answers from the 1998 survey for respondents with subspecialty fellowship training were compared. RESULTS: Compared with the 1998 group of 265 DBPs, the 368 DBPs in the 2015 group were older, more female, and more diverse. In both groups, ≥80% evaluated and treated autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental delays, but significantly (p < 0.001) fewer cared for children with physical disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy [58% to 41%], multihandicapped [53% to 39%], neonatal follow-up [47% to 31%], and spina bifida [26% to 13%]) and other disorders (e.g., failure to thrive and obesity/eating disorders [27% to 15%]). Time for new patient and return visits remained the same (1.5 hours and 0.7 hours). Pediatric generalists and family practice physicians initiated most referrals; fewer 2015 DBPs (p < 0.001) reported school districts (83% to 70%) and more reported pediatric subspecialty (57% to 77%; p < 0.001) referrals. Acknowledgment of the need for more community DBP specialists increased from 66% to 80% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Survey data indicated that the workforce is aging and changing. ADHD, ASD, and developmental delays are solidifying as the defining clinical focus of DBP. Current trends can identify training needs, facilitate recruitment, and advocate for system change to support the DBP workforce to respond to the great need.

Colocated Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics in Primary Care: Improved Outcome Across Settings.

OBJECTIVE: We developed a colocation "Rapid Developmental Evaluation" (RDE) model for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) to evaluate young children for developmental concerns raised during routine developmental surveillance and screening in a pediatric primary care Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). In this low-income patient population, we anticipated that colocation would improve patient access to DBP and decrease time from referral to first developmental evaluation and therapeutic services. METHODS: Children were assessed at the FQHC by a DBP pediatrician, who made recommendations for therapeutic services and further diagnostic evaluations. A retrospective chart review over 27 months (N = 151) investigated dates of referral and visit, primary concern, diagnosis, and referral to tertiary DBP center and associated tertiary DBP center dates of service and diagnoses if appropriate. We surveyed primary care clinicians (PCCs) for satisfaction. RESULTS: The DBP pediatrician recommended that 51% of children be referred to the tertiary DBP center for further diagnostic evaluation or routine DBP follow-up. Average wait from referral to an RDE visit was 57 days compared with 137.3 days for the tertiary DBP center. Children referred from RDE to the tertiary DBP center completed visits at a higher rate (77%) than those referred from other sites (54%). RDE-recommended therapeutic services were initiated for 73% of children by the tertiary visit. Fidelity of diagnosis between RDE and the tertiary DBP center was high, as was PCC satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Colocation of a DBP pediatrician in an FQHC primary care pediatrics program decreased time to first developmental assessment and referral for early intervention services for an at-risk, low-income patient population.

A Workforce Survey on Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Developmental-behavioral conditions are common, affecting ∼15% of US children. The prevalence and complexity of these conditions are increasing despite long wait times and a limited pipeline of new providers. We surveyed a convenience sample of the developmental-behavioral pediatric (DBP) workforce to determine current practices, workforce trends, and future needs. METHODS: An electronic survey was e-mailed to 1568 members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and Council on Children with Disabilities, the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Developmental and Behavioral Mental Health Special Interest Group. RESULTS: The response rate was 48%. There were 411 fellowship-trained physicians, 147 nonfellowship-trained physicians, and 125 nurse practitioners; 61% were women, 79% were white, and 5% were Hispanic. Physicians had a mean of 29 years since medical school graduation, and one-third planned to retire in 3 to 5 years. Nurse practitioners were earlier in their careers. Respondents reported long wait times for new appointments, clinician burnout, increased patient complexity and up to 50% additional time spent per visit in nonreimbursed clinical-care activities. Female subspecialists spent more time per visit in billable and nonbillable components of clinical care. CONCLUSIONS: The DBP workforce struggles to meet current service demands, with long waits for appointments, increased complexity, and high volumes of nonreimbursed care. Sex-based practice differences must be considered in future planning. The viability of the DBP subspecialty requires strategies to maintain and expand the workforce, improve clinical efficiency, and prevent burnout.

Does an intervention to reduce maternal anxiety, depression and trauma also improve mothers' perceptions of their preterm infants' vulnerability?

To determine if an intervention to reduce maternal distress and address maternal perceptions of infants' vulnerability also reduces perceptions of vulnerability, 105 mothers of premature infants (25- to 34-weeks' gestational age; >600 g) with depression, anxiety, or trauma were randomized to a six- or nine-session intervention or a comparison condition. The outcome was changes in a measure of perception of infant vulnerability between 4 to 5 weeks' and 6 months' postdelivery, the Vulnerability Baby Scale (VBS; B. Forsyth, S. Horwitz, J. Leventhal, & J. Burger, 1996; N. Kerruish, K. Settle, P. Campbell-Stokes, & B. Taylor, 2005). High scores on the VBS were indicative of high levels of perceived infant vulnerability. The perceptions of infants' vulnerability showed significant declines, with no differences across groups or in rate of change. Mothers reporting prior trauma at entry to the study showed much lower perceptions of infants' vulnerability scores under the intervention, Cohen's d = -0.86, p = .01. Given that women with prior trauma are very likely to view their premature infants as vulnerable, this intervention may have important implications for subsequent parenting behaviors and child development.

Follow-up of children of depressed mothers exposed or not exposed to antidepressant drugs during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the structural growth and developmental outcome of children born to mothers diagnosed with major depressive disorder during pregnancy who were exposed or not exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in utero. STUDY DESIGN: Children whose mothers were diagnosed with major depressive disorder in pregnancy and elected not to take medication (n = 13) were compared with children of depressed mothers treated with SSRIs (n = 31) on birth outcomes and postnatal neurodevelopmental functioning between ages 6 and 40 months. Children underwent blinded standardized pediatric and dysmorphology examinations and evaluations of their mental and psychomotor development with the use of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID II). RESULTS: The Bayley mental developmental indexes were similar in both groups. Children exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy had lower APGAR scores and scored lower on the Bayley psychomotor development indexes and the motor quality factor of the Bayley Behavioral Rating Scale than unexposed children. CONCLUSIONS: The findings that SSRIs during fetal development might have subtle effects on motor development and motor control are consistent with the pharmacologic properties of the drugs.