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Maternal and Other Factors in the Etiology of Infantile Colic: Title and subTitle BreakReport of a Prospective Study of 146 Infants FREE

Jack L. Paradise, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Read in part before the Section on Child Development during the 34th annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Chicago, Oct 24, 1965.

Reprint requests to 4211 Noble St, Bellaire, Ohio 43906 (Dr. Paradise).


From the Department of Pediatrics, Bellaire (Ohio) Clinic.


JAMA. 1966;197(3):191-199. doi:10.1001/jama.1966.03110030085031
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Significant colic developed in 23% of 146 normal newborns. Its incidence was unrelated to family economic class, maternal age, birth order, sex, weight gain, type of feeding, or family history of allergic or gastrointestinal disorder. Superior maternal intelligence and advanced maternal education seemed associated with a higher than average incidence of colic, possibly because of better maternal reporting or lower maternal tolerance. The occurrence of colic showed no relationship to maternal emotional factors, whether estimated clinically or measured by a standardized psychological test. Most mothers of infants with colic were stable, cheerful, and feminine. This evidence, and other evidence when critically reviewed, does not support the frequently stated view that colic results from an unfavorable emotional climate created by an inexperienced, anxious, hostile, or unmotherly mother. By so advising parents, physicians may relieve them of unwarranted self-blame and anxiety.

REFERENCES

Aldrich, C.A.; Sung, C.; and Knop, C.:  The Crying of Newly Born Babies: III. The Early Period at Home , J Pediat 27:428-435 ( (Nov) ) 1945;.
Levine, M.I., and Bell, A.I.:  The Treatment of "Colic" in Infancy by Use of the Pacifier , J Pediat 37:750-755 ( (Nov) ) 1950;.
Jorup, S.:  Colonic Hyperperistalsis in Neurolabile Infants , Acta Paediat 85 ( (suppl) ):1-110, 1952;.
Stewart, A.H., et al:  Excessive Infant Crying (Colic) in Relation to Parent Behavior , Amer J Psychiat 110:687-694 ( (March) ) 1954;.
Illingworth, R.S.:  Three Months' Colic , Arch Dis Child 29:165-174 ( (June) ) 1954;.
Wessel, M.A., et al:  Paroxysmal Fussing in Infancy, Sometimes Called "Colic ," Pediatrics 14:421-434 ( (Nov) ) 1954;.
Breslow, L.:  A Clinical Approach to Infantile Colic , J Pediat 50:196-206 ( (Feb) ) 1957;.
Brazelton, T.B.:  Crying in Infancy , Pediatrics 29:579-588 ( (April) ) 1962;.
Clark, R.L.; Ganis, F.M.; and Bradford, W.L.:  A Study of the Possible Relationship of Progesterone to Colic , Pediatrics 31:65-71 ( (Jan) ) 1963;.
Martin, F.J.:  The Colicky Baby , Ann Allerg 12:700-704 ( (Nov) -Dec) 1954;.
Speer, F.:  Colic and Allergy: A Ten-Year Study , Arch Pediat 75:271-278 ( (July) ) 1958;.
Taylor, W.C.:  A Study of Infantile Colic , Canad Med Assoc J 76:458-461 ( (March 15) ) 1957;.
Hathaway, S.R., and McKinley, J.C.: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Manual (revised), New York: Psychological Corp., 1951;, pp 1-402.
Pearson, J.S., et al:  Further Experience With the Automated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory , Mayo Clin Proc 39:823-829 ( (Nov) ) 1964;.
Hollingshead, A.B., and Redlich, F.C.: Social Class and Mental Illness , New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1958;, pp 172-173.
Haas, S.V.:  The Hypertonic Infant, the Curative Action of Atropin on Certain of its Manifestations , Amer J Dis Child 15: 323-335 ( (May) ) 1918;.
Spock, B.:  Etiological Factors in Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis and Infantile Colic , Psychosom Med 6:162-165 ( (April) ) 1944;.
Shabanah, E.H.; Toth, A.; and Maughan, G.B.:  Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Uterine Contractility and Blood Flow: II. The Roles of the Parasympathetic Neurohormone Acetylcholine in Uterine Motility and Blood Flow , Amer J Obstet Gynec 89:860-880 ( (Aug) ) 1964;.
Knowles, F.W.:  A Relaxing Machine , Med J Aust 2:15-17 ( (July) ) 1959;.
Lipton, E.L.; Steischneider, A.; and Richmond, J.B.:  Autonomic Function in the Neonate , Psychosom Med 22:57-65 ( (Jan) -Feb) 1960;.
Lipton, E.L.; Steinschneider, A.; and Richmond, J.B.:  Swaddling, a Child Care Practice: Historical, Cultural, and Experimental Observations , Pediatrics 35:521-567 ( (March) ) 1965;.
Pierce, P.P.:  Delayed Onset of "Three Months" Colic in Premature Infants , Amer J Dis Child 75:190-192 ( (Feb) ) 1948;.
Kanner, L.: In Defense of Mothers , New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1944;, pp 1-167.
Spock, B.: Baby and Child Care , New York: Pocket Books, Inc., 1957;, pp 174-182

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Aldrich, C.A.; Sung, C.; and Knop, C.:  The Crying of Newly Born Babies: III. The Early Period at Home , J Pediat 27:428-435 ( (Nov) ) 1945;.
Levine, M.I., and Bell, A.I.:  The Treatment of "Colic" in Infancy by Use of the Pacifier , J Pediat 37:750-755 ( (Nov) ) 1950;.
Jorup, S.:  Colonic Hyperperistalsis in Neurolabile Infants , Acta Paediat 85 ( (suppl) ):1-110, 1952;.
Stewart, A.H., et al:  Excessive Infant Crying (Colic) in Relation to Parent Behavior , Amer J Psychiat 110:687-694 ( (March) ) 1954;.
Illingworth, R.S.:  Three Months' Colic , Arch Dis Child 29:165-174 ( (June) ) 1954;.
Wessel, M.A., et al:  Paroxysmal Fussing in Infancy, Sometimes Called "Colic ," Pediatrics 14:421-434 ( (Nov) ) 1954;.
Breslow, L.:  A Clinical Approach to Infantile Colic , J Pediat 50:196-206 ( (Feb) ) 1957;.
Brazelton, T.B.:  Crying in Infancy , Pediatrics 29:579-588 ( (April) ) 1962;.
Clark, R.L.; Ganis, F.M.; and Bradford, W.L.:  A Study of the Possible Relationship of Progesterone to Colic , Pediatrics 31:65-71 ( (Jan) ) 1963;.
Martin, F.J.:  The Colicky Baby , Ann Allerg 12:700-704 ( (Nov) -Dec) 1954;.
Speer, F.:  Colic and Allergy: A Ten-Year Study , Arch Pediat 75:271-278 ( (July) ) 1958;.
Taylor, W.C.:  A Study of Infantile Colic , Canad Med Assoc J 76:458-461 ( (March 15) ) 1957;.
Hathaway, S.R., and McKinley, J.C.: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Manual (revised), New York: Psychological Corp., 1951;, pp 1-402.
Pearson, J.S., et al:  Further Experience With the Automated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory , Mayo Clin Proc 39:823-829 ( (Nov) ) 1964;.
Hollingshead, A.B., and Redlich, F.C.: Social Class and Mental Illness , New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1958;, pp 172-173.
Haas, S.V.:  The Hypertonic Infant, the Curative Action of Atropin on Certain of its Manifestations , Amer J Dis Child 15: 323-335 ( (May) ) 1918;.
Spock, B.:  Etiological Factors in Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis and Infantile Colic , Psychosom Med 6:162-165 ( (April) ) 1944;.
Shabanah, E.H.; Toth, A.; and Maughan, G.B.:  Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Uterine Contractility and Blood Flow: II. The Roles of the Parasympathetic Neurohormone Acetylcholine in Uterine Motility and Blood Flow , Amer J Obstet Gynec 89:860-880 ( (Aug) ) 1964;.
Knowles, F.W.:  A Relaxing Machine , Med J Aust 2:15-17 ( (July) ) 1959;.
Lipton, E.L.; Steischneider, A.; and Richmond, J.B.:  Autonomic Function in the Neonate , Psychosom Med 22:57-65 ( (Jan) -Feb) 1960;.
Lipton, E.L.; Steinschneider, A.; and Richmond, J.B.:  Swaddling, a Child Care Practice: Historical, Cultural, and Experimental Observations , Pediatrics 35:521-567 ( (March) ) 1965;.
Pierce, P.P.:  Delayed Onset of "Three Months" Colic in Premature Infants , Amer J Dis Child 75:190-192 ( (Feb) ) 1948;.
Kanner, L.: In Defense of Mothers , New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1944;, pp 1-167.
Spock, B.: Baby and Child Care , New York: Pocket Books, Inc., 1957;, pp 174-182
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