Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Early Childhood: Prediction, Prevention and Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Even though many consider early childhood to be a carefree period in human development, severe mental health difficulties can occur, even in very young children. In the first few years of life, brain development is extraordinary with regard to the rapidity and profundity of mental development in the human life cycle. Mental disorders in infancy and toddlerhood are closely related to the achievement of developmental milestones. From this, it follows that symptomatologies in very young children usually manifest differently compared to older children, adolescents, or adults and may change with age. In early childhood, we see a broad spectrum of difficulties and problems: infants with sleep disturbances; infants who are failing to thrive or have feeding disturbances; toddlers who are self-endangering, extremely aggressive, or impulsive; and young children who are unduly anxious, have been traumatized or maltreated, or show many other behavioral or emotional problems. In addition, mental illness in parents and caregivers can affect the development of very young children and can be passed through generations. Furthermore, untreated health problems in the early years create burdens for the individual as well as for the society. Therefore, early multidisciplinary and relationship-based interventions with a focus on parental skills to improve parent–infant relationships are necessary to prevent chronifications and thus impairments to child development.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to help scientists and clinicians to explore issues related to mental health in early childhood and to evolve this knowledge into daily practice. We invite the submission of manuscripts dealing with the most common mental-health-related issues observed in this specific age group, such as crying, sleeping and feeding disorders, anxiety and other emotional problems, attachment and infant–parent relations, and prevention and treatment options. Original research papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are welcome.

Dr. Margarete Bolten
Guest Editor

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