A proposed adaptation of DC: 0-3R for primary care, developmental research, and prevention of mental disorders

The development of the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC: 0-3; Zero to Three: National Center for Clinical Infant Programs, 1994) has been an important step in the field of infant mental health. In this paper, we propose some additions to the existing classification system. These additions include the development of criteria for infant, toddler, and family strengths, and the development of criteria for symptomatology that represents risk for disorder, but not fully manifest disorder. These additions will give DC: 0-3R greater potential for use in the primary health care of children, thereby increasing the system's utility in diagnosing and preventing infant mental health problems.