Social withdrawal behaviour in infant: clinical and research interest

The social withdrawal behaviour concept is presented, along with its historical background and its links to infant depression. Sustained social withdrawal behaviour in infancy is observed either with attachment disorders, in autism, sensory impairment, intense and chronic pain, or in interaction disorders and as effects of maternal depression on the infant. The alarm distress baby scale (ADBB) is a 8 item-assessment scale. It has been built to help screening early withdrawal behaviour, making use for example of the routine physical examination in a Well Baby clinic. Current clinical and research application and validations of the scale are presented.