An international assemblage of child psychiatrists, child psychoanalysts, pediatricians, child development researchers, perinatologists, social workers, infant care workers, neonatologists and linguists met in transdisciplinary communication at the First World Congress on Infant Psychiatry held at Cascais, Portugal, March 31 through April 3, 1980.
The Congress was dedicated to the memory of René Spitz, pioneering infant psychiatrist and psychoanalyst of Vienna, Paris, New York, Geneva and Denver. Erik Erikson presented a plenary address entitled, “Critical Remarks on the Importance of the Whole Life Cycle of Some of the New Findings and Theories in the Field of Infancy,” while Margaret Mahler was honored at a special plenary session and, in collaboration with John B. McDevitt, presented a current overview and film of mother-child interaction during the separation-individuation process. Other plenary speakers were Jerome Bruner on “Thought, Language and Interaction in Infancy;” and Daniel Stern as a Thrasher Research Foundation guest lecturer on “Early Transmission of Effects.” Their papers were discussed by Eleanor Galenson, M.D., and Justin D. Call, M.D., Co-Chairpersons of the Congress. T. Berry Brazelton spoke on “Behavioral Competence of the Newborn,” while Robert Emde presented a paper entitled, “The Rewards of Infancy, Emotional Availability and Maternal Referencing,” with discussions by Arthur H. Parmelee, Jr., and Klaus H. Minde. Thomas F. Anders presented a longitudinal study of “Nighttime Sleep/Wake Patterns in Infancy from Birth to One Year,” and E. James Anthony presented “Infancy in a Crazy Environment,” with discussions by Heiman Van Dam and Bertram A. Ruttenberg.
At the closing plenary session, Selma Fraiberg presented a paper entitled, “Prevention and Intervention in Infancy: Treatment Methods,” and John H. Kennell presented “Early Events and Later Effects on the Infant,” with discussion by Professor Serge Lebovici and Sally Provence. The program featured over 144 participants with over 500 people registered from 17 different countries throughout the world.
The Congress received financial assistance from the Irving Harris Foundation of Chicago, Illinois, and the Thrasher Research Foundation of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the help of sponsoring organizations including The Association for Child Psychoanalysis, The American Academy of Child Psychiatry, The International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, The Society for Research in Child Development, The Adolescent Section of the World Psychiatric Association, The Ambulatory Pediatrics Association in collaboration with The American Academy of Pediatrics, The Society of Portuguese Pediatrics and The Portuguese Psychoanalytic Association.
Future transdisciplinary programs will be sponsored by the newly formed “International Association for Child Psychiatry and Infant Development.” A Second World Congress is being planned.
Proceedings of the Congress will be published by Basic Books. Audio tapes and video tapes, including in-depth interviews with plenary speakers are available through the Infant Psychiatry Research and Education Foundation, P.O. Box 7313, Newport Beach, CA. 92660. All communications concerning this Congress and future plans for other Congresses should be addressed to Secretary General Herman D. Staples, M.D., 24 Green Valley Road, Wallingford, PA. 19086.