You might check out the Massie Campbell Scale, but I am not sure that it has been used for parent report, one of the criteria in your question. 

Thanks Hiram!  Will do. 

Also check the NCAST Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training

Also a good idea!  Thank you. I am familiar with this measure but had not thought of it.

Daniel.  We used the NCAST in the national evaluation of Early Head Start here in the US and it produced very nice outcomes both with mother-infant and father-infant interactions.  But, the infants were not newborns in that study  (earliest use with moms was at 6 months, with dads at 12 months.   Hi

Thanks again.  Margaret Briggs-Gowan gave me a great tip for measurement relating to infants' status the Alarm Distress Scale by Antoine Guedeney (2007). It's translated into many languages (and already validated in French of course which is good for us)

Daniel.  There is an entire special issue on the ADS last year (I think), with contributions from around the globe.  It is a quick 10 item scale that mostly focuses on depression

Volume 34, Issue 6

ABSTRACT

This article reviews the studies using or validating the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB; A. Guedeney & J. Fermanian, 2001) within different countries, different populations, and different settings. After a brief summary of the theoretical backgrounds of infant social behavior, the results of the main controlled and methodologically comparable studies are summarized and discussed. Second, the results of some observational studies as well as different models of factor analysis are presented. The modified, five-item ADBB (m-ADBB) Scale is described. Finally, perspectives for future research and training are presented.1

Este artículo describe la historia y teoría del concepto de conducta de retractación social en los infantes, el diseño de la Escala de Alarma de la Angustia del Bebé, y la primera validación de la escala en Francia (ADBB, Guedeney y Fermanian, 2001). Los resultados de los principales estudios controlados se resumen y discuten, así como varias validaciones y aplicaciones en varios países y en la investigación diversa y escenarios clínicos.

Cet article décrit l’histoire et la théorie du concept de comportement de retrait relationnel chez les bébés, la construction de l’Echelle Alarme Détresse Bébé (en anglais Alarm Distress Baby Scale) et la première validation de l’échelle en France (ADBB, Guedeney & Fermanian, 2001). Les résultats des études principales contrôlées sont résumés et discutés, comme le sont plusieurs validations et applications dans différents pays et dans de nombreuses situations cliniques et situations de recherche.

Thank you!  So glad to have your help on this.  I think we will need to use two different measures in fact. One that focuses on the clinician's observations of the baby's state and parent-baby interaction and the other, on the mother's subjective take.  Dan

Observation I believe would still be your quickest  and most valid measure.Watdch mother's eye( instant OR focused on baby;s body with tender looks or concerned caring looks) What is  mother's  posture when baby cries.  Does her face show concern  and caring"?  W if mom's body leans toward  toward the NICU crib or  or is mom sitting stiffly. and ignoring cries?  watch if mom tries to put hands through   and tries  stroking gently on skin and tenderly when baby acts distressed.? Observations can tell you realms about whether mom is avoiding bonding or trying hard to be tuned in and responsive.. Distant look in eyes is a sign of too much pain for mom and  her avoidance of developing intimate relationship   with NICU infant...

Observations are your best and most reliable way to ascertain that the parent looks lots at baby. tries to stroked tenderly through the portholes ( even though wearing gloves... Eyes move over length of baby's body with anxious and caring expressions. talks or murmurs to baby in isolette.  Asks nurses about how baby was during the nighttime before parent visit. These observations can tell you that bonding is slowly occurring.

I have used the Alarm Distress Baby Scale with 2 month-old infants following major cardiac surgery (for severe Congenital Heart Disease) in the early weeks of life. We had a small sample of mothers and infants (22) and we found that maternal distress places these infants at substantially increased risk of social withdrawal as measured by ADBB. Maternal distress was measured by the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), State anxiety (STAI), and Parenting Stress Index (PSI-SF) . We reported these results in a poster presented at Leipzig WAIMH Congress and we are about to submit the paper for publication in a paediatric journal. Antoine commented that his measure had not been used before this on such very young infants who were medically vulnerable and this study is unique in this way. He also commented on the high incidence of infant distress/social withdrawal found in this cohort of infants (46%). If you decide to use this scale, the infant observers will need to be reliable for the ADBB. Contact Antoine Guedeney for details. Jenny

Thanks Jenny!   I remember our meeting.  We have started using the Alarm Distress Scale for our clinical work in fact!

best,

Dan

Hi Daniel,

do you have any results yet in using the ADBB? I am interested to compare PIRAT Global Scales to ADBB on a sample of preterm babies, that´s why I am interested ...

Best wishes,

Susanne