Pediatric psychology in managing fragility of the child and adolescent in pediatric condition

Abstract

This paper seeks to provide guidance for a reference framework to aid in the foundation of the section “Pediatric Psychology and Related Issues” of the Journal of Pediatric and Neonatal Individualized Medicine (JPNIM). The section represents the opportunity to raise awareness on developmental psychology at “developmental-clinical” level rather than at “clinical-developmental” level. In the former expression, we focus on the object of the study and intervention during the developmental process, highlighting specifically the method, approach and implications in patient management when referring to “clinical”. In the “clinical-developmental” approach, greater focus is given to the clinical implications and to the psychopathological case identified by the clinic. 

This paper focuses on the way in which know-how and expertise in pediatric psychology draw on a vast body of evidence and literature produced by the scientific community. This paper has dedicated a great deal of space to background notions as a demonstration of the “fundamentals” which illustrate the significant difference between pediatric psychology and the mere application of psychology in pediatrics. This paper guides the reader towards an analysis of the condition of fragility which often characterizes the pediatric condition, subsequently addressing constructs and methods. It concludes with the identification of several areas of research and intervention within the fields of mother-child well-being and pediatrics.

This paper is part of the “Pediatric Psychology and Related Issues” Section (Sezione “Psicologia Pediatrica e Dintorni”) by S.I.P.Ped. (Italian Society of Pediatric Psychology, Società Italiana di Psicologia Pediatrica).