ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors found out that compared with two control groups only the children with feeding problems had mothers whose eating habits and attitude to food and to body shape and weight were significantly disturbed. Indeed, regulation of negative affect becomes the infant's primary goal and preempts other possible goals. The adverse effect of parental mental illnesses on the at-risk baby, who was hyperalert, rigid in her body and showed bonding difficulties, is described in a parent-infant psychotherapy paper by Pozzi. Philippa and her husband already had a happy and thriving five-year-old son, but Philippa became anxious and depressed during her second pregnancy – which was not planned – and feared not being able to cope with two children. It is difficult to define Fiona’s major problem, beyond her diagnosis of personality disorder, and her background of abuse, violence and addiction, which was rather extensive.
