Relations between prematurity and the subjective constitution of the newborn

Abstract

The present article aimed to present a critical review of the literature on the topic of prematurity related to processes of subjective constitution, in an attempt to identify the findings of researches in the field of psychology, more specifically psychoanalysis, over the past ten years, in this regard. The hypothesis guiding this study, leading to its central question, was that preterm birth, in the context of neonatal intensive care in NICU, may constitute a psychic risk factor for the establishment of the subject, directing them toward psychopathologies. Few articles on the topic were found, and most of them used the clinical indicators of risk/reference to child development (Indicadores Clínicos de Risco para o Desenvolvimento Infantil – IRDI) protocol. The results of such studies were not unanimous, those conducted during the NICU stay concluded that prematurity did not hinder subjective constitution. In contrast, the three quantitative studies carried out after hospital discharge indicate a higher frequency of psychological risk associated with prematurity, which may be exacerbated by the NICU experience. Finally, the literature reviews demonstrate the impacts of prematurity on global development, with an emphasis on organicist aspects. Thus, it is concluded that further investigations on the subject are necessary, particularly in the field of Psychology, where such studies remain scarce. The importance of the presence of psychologysts in this context is also underscored, as it supports early interventions in favor of the newborn’s psychological development.