In this new edition of the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation’s Scientific Symposia, we wanted to address a subject that is often forgotten and little known even by professionals in our country: the Mental Health of children under 5 years of age. Unfortunately, there are too many children who do not have the start in life they need, which conditions many lives and represents a high cost for society. Experts say that the early years of life is a crucial period of transformation and, along with adolescence, a key time for brain development. It is becoming increasingly clear that events that happen to babies and children lead to structural brain changes that have lifelong consequences. Attachment is a bond between child and caregiver. There is long-standing evidence that an infant’s social and emotional development is affected by the quality of parental attachment. If early intervention is not taken, the consequences will extend not only to this generation of children, but also to future generations. Those who suffer an unfavourable childhood have lower educational attainment, lower wages and poorer health, perpetuating the cycle of harm into the next generation.

For all these reasons, this year the Foundation has chosen the theme of Perinatal Psychiatry (first year of life) and Early Childhood (up to 5 years of age) to explore these issues in depth with professionals who are in contact with children and babies: gynaecologists, neonatologists, paediatricians and child psychologists and psychiatrists.

We hope that you find the programme interesting and that together we can advance in the knowledge of this somewhat neglected aspect of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Alicia Koplowitz,
President