BMJ  2006;333 (2 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7566.0-b

Stimulating stunted toddlers improves later psychosocial functioning

Psychosocial stimulation in early childhood has long term benefits to growth retarded (stunted) children's emotional outcomes and attention. Walker and colleagues (p 472) undertook a 16 year follow-up study of a randomised controlled trial comparing dietary supplementation (1 kg of milk based formula a week) or psychosocial stimulation (weekly play sessions with mother and child), or both, for two years as treatment for stunted children aged 9-24 months in poor neighbourhoods in Kingston, Jamaica. In late adolescence, participants who received stimulation reported less anxiety, less depression, and higher self esteem than those who did not. Dietary supplementation had no sustained effect.

Credit: MARC FRENCH/PANOS PICTURES

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Effects of psychosocial stimulation and dietary supplementation in early childhood on psychosocial functioning in late adolescence: follow-up of randomised controlled trial

Susan P Walker, Susan M Chang, Christine A Powell, Emily Simonoff, and Sally M Grantham-McGregor
BMJ 2006 333: 472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]