Abstract
Clinical and research experience with the DC: 0–3 classification in an Israeli infant mental health unit is presented in this article. The clinical use of the DC: 0–3 diagnoses is described in the context of our routine assessment process and basic theoretical approach. Reasons for referral and distribution of DC: 0–3 diagnoses of 414 infants and parents, assessed at the unit between the years 1996 and 2000, are shown. Twenty‐five percent had no diagnosis on any of the four axes, 29.5% of the infants had both a Primary and a Relational diagnosis, and only 5.6% had a diagnosis on each of the four axes. Less than half (45%) of the infants received a Primary diagnosis, and 52% had a Relational diagnosis. Possible explanations are given, and problems we faced with the use of the classification are described. Research use of the DC: 0–3 classification is illustrated through the summary of a previously published study on diagnoses and play and feeding interactions of referred and nonreferred infants. These research findings had significant implications for our clinical work, such as the validation of the training we gave community nurses, and the usefulness of the routine combined use of categorical and dimensional tools in a clinical setting. ©2003 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.