New and Expanded Neuropsychosocial Concepts Complementary to Llorens' Developmental Theory: Achieving Growth and Development Through Occupation for Neonatal Infants and Their Families

This book analyzes and suggests an expansion of Llorens’ developmental theory of occupational therapy, applying these concepts in a final schematic model for use by occupational therapists, occupational scientists, and others involved in occupational tasks, relationships, and activities. The book then uses the International Classification of Functioning in a context of health promotion and disease prevention to relate the expanded theory to psychosocial, cognitive, and sensorimotor correlates in preterm infants and their families in the neonatal intensive care unit and after discharge to the home environment. Last, it provides an NICU infant case illustration on the Developmental Analysis, Evaluation, and Intervention Schedule.

The major theme of this book focuses upon expanding the psychological, neurophysiological, and sociological aspects of Llorens’ developmental theory for a person-occupation-environment based practice and research. The book will then correlate these concepts with current terminology from the World Health Organization, and specialized knowledge and skills in the neonatal intensive care unit.

This book was published as a special issue of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health.

Dr. La Corte’s current affiliations are as follows: PhD Candidate in the College of Social, Behavioral and Health Science, Walden University; Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah; Private Practice; Adjunct Faculty, Division of Occupational Therapy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. She has taught multiple courses on infant development, and has published case study and poster presentation abstracts. Further to this, she has provided occupational therapy services in the primary care setting in various NICUs, and at Aviano Air force Base, Aviano, Italy, to screen all newborn infants and provide support for infant, mother, and family co-occupations.