Publications: NBAS and NBO Research

Shoaff, J., Nugent, J.K., Brazelton, T.B; Korrick, S.A. (2020). Early Infant Correlates of Social Skills in Adolescents. Journal of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 2020; 00:1-10.

Froggart, S., Reissland, N., Covey, J. (2020). The effects of prenatal cigarette and e-cigarette exposure on infant neurobehaviour: A comparison to a control group. EClinicalMedicine 28 (2020) 100602

Zhang Huiping, Shao Shuya, Su Qian, Yao Dan, Sun Hongli, Ding Ding, Dang Shaokang, Wang Shan, Zhu Zhonliang, Li Hui. (2018) Involvement of prolactin in newborn infant irritability following maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 238, 1 October 2018, Pages 526-533. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29936391/

Osborne, S., Biaggi, A., Chua, T.E., Du Preez, A., Hazelgrove, K., Nikkheslat, N., Previti, G., Zunszain, P.A., Conroy, S., & Pariante, C.M. (2018). Antenatal depression programs cortisol stress reactivity in offspring through increased maternal inflammation and cortisol in pregnancy: The Psychiatry Research and Motherhood – Depression (PRAM-D) Study. Psychoneuroendocrinology , Volume 98 , 211 – 221

Miguel Barbosa, João Moreira, Edward Tronick, Marjorie Beeghly, Marina Fuertes (2018). Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS): Confirmatory factor analysis of the six behavioral clusters. Early Human Development, 124, p.1-6. 

Durieux, Claire deVrient- Goldman (2018). The benefits and strengths of using the Brazelton scale for preterm infant observation. Devinir, 30, 3, pp. 225 – 239. 

Öznur BAŞDAŞ, Emine ERDEM , Ferhan ELMALI , Selim KURTOĞLU (2018). The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: A validity and reliability study in a Turkish sample. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 48: 399-404:  doi:10.3906/sag-1711-111

Priyantha Perera, Pavithra Godamunne, Sumal Nandasena, Meghan Tipre, Udaya Wimalasiri, Mark Reader, Thulani Beddage, Tamika Smith, Anuradhani Kasturiratne, Nalini Sathiakumar, Rajitha Wickremasinghe (2018). A comparison of Alberta’s Infant Motor Scale and Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale. bioRxiv 462572; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/462572.

Cecil, C. A. M., Pickles, A., Hill, J., & Sharp, H. (2017). The Joint Contributions of Maternal Depression and Infant Negative Emotionality to Maternal Sensitivity to Infant Distress. PsyArXiv, 2 Oct. 2017. Web. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/7pshj

Barona, M., Taborelli, E., Corfield, F., Pawlby, S., Easter, A., Schmidt, U., Treasure, J., & Micali, N. (2017). Neurobehavioural and cognitive development in infants born to mothers with eating disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 58(8):931-938. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12736 

Braithwaite, E.C., Pickles, A., Sharp, H., Glover, V., O’Donnell, J., Tibu, F., & Hill, J. (2017) Maternal prenatal cortisol predicts infant negative emotionality in a sex-dependent manner. Physiology and Behaviour 175:31-36. DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.017. 

Huiping Zhang, Qian Su, Dan Yao,  Shan Wang, Shaokang Dang, Ding Ding,Zhongliang Zhu, Shuya Shao, Hui L i(2017). Prolactin, a potential mediator of reduced social interactive behavior in newborn infants following maternal perinatal depressive symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 215, 274-280.

Rundjan L, Pusponegoro H, Tumbelaka A. (2016). Neonatal adaptive behavioral assessment in asphyxiated full-term newborn infants as measured by the Brazelton scale. Paediatrica Indonesiana [Internet]. 10Oct.2016 [cited 26Jan.2023];44(6):234-. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/784

Bedford, R., Pickles, A., Sharp, H., Wright, N., & Hill, J. (2015). Reduced Face Preference in Infancy: A Developmental Precursor to Callous-Unemotional Traits? Biological Psychiatry, 78(2), 144-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.09.022

Alicia Alvarez-Garcia, Albert Fornieles-Deu, Carme Costas-Moragas, Francesc Botet-Mussons (2014). Neurobehavioral conditions and effects of gender, weight and severity in preterm infants according to the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Anales de Psicología. vol. 31, núm. 3, octubre, 2015, pp. 818-824

Jonathan Hill, Andrew Pickles, Helen Sharp, Charlotte Cecil. The joint contributions of maternal depression and infant negative emotionality to maternal sensitivity to infant distress. Presented at the 14th World WAIMH Congress, Edinburgh, June 2014.

Carmine M Pariante, Susan Conroy, Enrica Fantini, Sarah Osborne, Susan Pawlby, Patricia Zunszain. Exposure to maternal childhood abuse and depression in utero: effects on neonatal behavioral regulation and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Presented at the 14th World WAIMH Congress, Edinburgh, June 2014.

J. K. Nugent, N. Snidman, J. Kagan, M. C. C. Shih, C. Matson, S. Bujoreanu, J. Gillette, S. Ming. The relationship between newborn behavior patterns and reactivity categories at four months of age: implications for emotional self-regulation. Presented at the 14th World WAIMH Congress, Edinburgh, June 2014.

Mula R., Savchev S., Parra M., Arranz A., Botet F., Costas-Moragas C., Gratacos E., Figueras F. (2013) Increased Fetal Brain Perfusion and Neonatal Neurobehavioral Performance in Normally Grown Fetuses. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, 33:182-188 (DOI:10.1159/000350699)

Hernandez-Martinez C, Arija V.V., Escribano S.J., Canals S.J. (2012) A longitudinal study on the effects of maternal smoking and secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy on neonatal neurobehavior. Early Human Development, 88(6), 403-8.

Ravindra Arya, Maya Chansoria, Ramesh Konanki and Dileep K. Tiwari (2012). Maternal Music Exposure during Pregnancy Influences Neonatal Behaviour: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 2012, Article ID 901812, 6 pages doi:10.1155/2012/901812

F. Figueras, R. Cruz-Martinez, M. Sanz-Cortes, A. Arranz, M. Illa, F. Botet, C. Costas-Moragas and E. Gratacos (2011). Neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm, growth-restricted infants with and without prenatal advanced signs of brain-sparing. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2011, 38, 3, 288-294. 

Josefa Canals, Carmen Hernández-Martínez, Griselda Esparó, Joan Fernández-Ballart (2011). Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale as a predictor of cognitive development and IQ in full-term infants: a 6-year longitudinal study. Acta Pædiatrica Acta, 2011, 100, pp. 1331–1337.

Accornero V.H., Anthony J.C., Morrow C.E., Xue L., Mansoor E., Johnson A.L., McCoy C.B., & Bandstra E.S. (2011). Estimated effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on examiner-rated behavior at age 7 years. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 33(3), 370-8. 

Oberlander, T. F., Jacobson, S. W., Weinberg, J., Grunau, R. E., Molteno, C. D. and Jacobson, J. L. (2010). Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Alters Biobehavioral Reactivity to Pain in Newborns. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 34: 681–692. 

Raquel Costa, Bárbara Figueiredo, Iva Tendais, Ana Conde, Alexandra Pacheco, César Teixeira (2010). Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: A psychometric study in a Portuguese sample. Infant Behavior & Development, 33 (2010) 510–517.

Cruz-Martinez R, Figueras F, Oros D, Padilla N, Meler E, Hernandez-Andrade E, Gratacos E. (2009). Cerebral blood perfusion and neurobehavioral performance in full-term small-for-gestational-age fetuses. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Nov;201(5):474.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.05.028. Epub 2009 Jul 24. PMID: 19631930.

Sagiv SK, Nugent JK, Brazelton TB, Choi AL, Tolbert PE, Altshul LM, Korrick SA. (2008). Prenatal organochlorine exposure and measures of behavior in infancy using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Environ Health Perspect. 116(5):666-73. doi: 10.1289/ehp.10553.

Kusaka, R., Ohgi, S., Shigemori, K., Fujimoto, T. (2008). Crying and Behavioral Characteristics in Premature Infants. J Jpn Phys Ther Assoc,11(1): 15–21.

Costas Moragas, C., Fornieles Deu, A., Botet Mussons, F., Boatella Costa, E., de Caceres Zurita, M.L. (2007). Psychometric evaluation of the Brazelton Scale in a sample of Spanish newborns. Psicothema, 19, 1, 140-149. 

Patrick H. Casey, Leanne Whiteside-Mansell, Kathleen Barrett, Robert H. Bradley, Regina Gargus (2006).  Impact of prenatal and/or postnatal growth problems in low birthweight preterm infants on school-age outcomes: an 8-year longitudinal evaluation.  Pediatrics,118, 3, 1078-1086. Sep;118(3):1078-86. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-0361.

Hernandez-Reif M, Field T, Diego M, and Ruddock M (2006). Greater arousal and less attentiveness to face/voice stimuli by neonates of depressed mothers on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Infant Behavior and Development, 29, 594-8.

Feldman R & Eidelman A. (2006). Neonatal state organization, neuromaturation, mother-infant interaction, and cognitive development in small-for-gestational-age premature infants. Pediatrics, 118(3), 869-78.

Ohgi S., Akiyama, T., Fukuda, M. (2005). Neurobehavioural profile of low- birthweight infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 47: 221–228.

Loo KL, Ohgi S, Zhu H, Howard J & Chen L (2005). Cross-cultural comparison of the neurobehavioral characteristics of Chinese and Japanese neonates. Pediatrics International, 47, 446-51.

Canals J, Fernandez-Ballart J and Esparo J (2003). Evolution of neonatal behavior assessment scale scores in the first month of life. Infant Behavior & Development, 26, 227-37.

Wolf M.J., Koldewijn K., Beelen A, Smit B, Hedlund R & de Groot I.J. (2002). Neurobehavioral and developmental profile of very low birthweight preterm infants in early infancy. Acta Pediatrica, 91(8), 930-8.

Lundqvist, C., Sabel, K-G,. (2000). The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale Detects Differences Among Newborn Infants of Optimal Health. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 25 (8): 577-582.doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/25.8.577.

Beth M. McManus, Yvette Blanchard, Natalie J. Murphy and J. Kevin Nugent (2020). The Effects of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System in Early Intervention: a Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial. Infant Mental Health Journal. 2020; 41, 6, 757-769: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/imhj.21882

Jayme Congdon, J. Kevin Nugent, Beth McManus, Michael Coccia, Nicole Bush (2020). A Pilot Validation Study of the Newborn Behavioral Observations System: Associations with Salivary Cortisol and Temperament. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2020 Aug 26. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000842. Online ahead of print. https://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abstract/9000/A_Pilot_Validation_Study_of_the_Newborn_Behavioral.99040.aspx

Kim Simkin-Tran, Bronwyn Harman, Susan Nicolson (2020). Mentalisation amongst Maternal and Child Health Nurses using the Newborn Behavioural Observations with infant-mother dyads: A qualitative study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Feb, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.01.018 

Kristensen, I. H., Vinter, M., Nickell, I.K., Kronborg, H. (2019). Health Visitors’ competencies before and after implementing the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system in a community setting: A cluster randomised study. Public Health Nursing. 00:1–7. https ://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12658

Zhang Huiping, Shao Shuya, Su Qian, Yao Dan, Sun Hongi, Ding Ding, Dang Shaokang, Wang Shan, Zhu Zhongliang, Li Hui (2018). Involvement of prolactin in newborn infant irritability following maternal perinatal anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 238, 526-533.

Marina Aguiar Pires Guimarães, Claudia Regina Lindgren Alves,
Ana Amélia Cardoso, Márcia Gomes Penido, Lívia de Castro Magalhães (2018). Clinical application of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System to characterize the behavioral pattern of newborns at biological and social risk. Journal de Pediatria, (Rio. J) 2018;94:300-7.

Greve, R., Braarud, H. C., Skotheim, S., Slinning, K. (2018). Feasibility and acceptability of an early home visit intervention aimed at supporting a positive mother–infant relationship for mothers at risk of postpartum depression. Scandanavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 32, 4,1437-1446. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/scs.12525

Huiping Zhang, Qian Su, Dan Yao, Shan Wang, Shaokang Dang, Ding Ding, Zhongliang Zhu, Shuya Shao, Hui L i(2017). Prolactin, a potential mediator of reduced social interactive behavior in newborn infants following maternal perinatal depressive symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 215, 274-280.

Erika da Silva Dittz, Claudia Regina L. Alves, Elysângela Dittz Duarte, Lívia de Castro Magalhães (2017). Contribution of the NBO for the maternal care of preterm neonates. Journal of Human Growth and Development. 27(3): 262-271. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7322/jhgd.125522

Schilling, M., Nicolson, S., Ridgway, L. (2017). When mother reports panic and sadness, how might we therapeutically support mother and baby? A reflective case study using the NBO.  Australian Journal of Child and Family Health Nursing, 15, 1, 4-8. 

Hawthorne, J. & Nicolau (2017). Health Professionals’ use of the Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) system: benefits and opportunities for integration into practice. Journal of Health Visiting. 5,7, 346-350. https://doi.org/10.12968/johv.2017.5.7.352

Nugent, J. K. Dym-Bartlett, J., Vonende, A., Valim, C. (2017). The Effects of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system on Sensitivity of Mother-Infant Interactions. Infants and Young Children, 30, 4, 257-268. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318405488_The_Effects_of_the_Newborn_Behavioral_Observations_NBO_System_on_Sensitivity_in_Mother-Infant_Interactions

Magalhaes, L., Dittz, E., Guimaraes, M. A. P., Lindgren Alves, C.1. The NBO as relationships building tool in Brazil: the perspective of mothers and professionals. Presented at the 15th World Congress of WAIMH, Prague, June 2016.

Appleton, J., Nickell, I., Nicolau, S. Evaluating the impact of preparation for health visitors prior to attending the NBO training on later use with families. Presented at the 15th World Congress of WAIMH, Prague, June 2016. (Unpublished)

Nugent, J .K. (2015). The Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System as a Form of Intervention and Support for New Parents. Zero to Three Journal, 36, 1, 2-10. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1123854

McManus, B. (2015). Integration of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System into Care Settings for High-Risk Newborns. Zero to Three Journal, 36, 1, 11-20. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318405488_The_Effects_of_the_Newborn_Behavioral_Observations_NBO_System_on_Sensitivity_in_Mother-Infant_Interactions

Hawthorne, J. (2015). Influencing Health Policy in the Antenatal and Postnatal Periods: the UK experience. Zero to Three Journal, 36, 1, 21-27. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1123851

Nicolson, S. (2015). Let’s meet your baby as a person: From Research to Preventive Perinatal Practice and Back Again with the Newborn Behavioral Observations. Zero to Three Journal, 36, 1, 28-39. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282075636_Let%27s_meet_your_baby_as_a_person_From_research_to_preventive_perinatal_practice_and_back_again_with_the_NBO

Slinning, K., Tranaas Vannebo, U. (2015). The Training of Infant Mental Health Practitioners: the Norway Experience. Zero to Three Journal, 36, 1, 40-45.

Gibbs, D.P. (2015). Supporting the Parent-Infant Relationship: Using the Neonatal Behavioural Observation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Journal of the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists, 6, 1, 26-34.

Paul, C. (2015). “Seeing Things Through My Eyes”: Understanding the Baby’s Perspective and Contribution to Psychodynamic Couple and Family Work. Couple and Family Psychoanalysis, 5(1) 1–5. https://www.pep-web.org/toc.php?journal=cfp&volume=5

Holland, A., Watkins, D. (2015). Flying Start Health Home Visitors’ views of implementing the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO): barriers and facilitating factors. Community Practitioner, 88, 4, 33-36. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26373004/

Nugent, J. K., Dym-Bartlett, J., Valim, C. (2014). Effects of an Infant-Focused Relationship-Based Hospital and Home Visiting Intervention on Reducing Symptoms of Postpartum Maternal Depression: A Pilot Study. Infants & Young Children, 27, 4, 292–304. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263734570_Effects_of_an_Infant-Focused_Relationship-Based_Hospital_and_Home_Visiting_Intervention_on_Reducing_Symptoms_of_Postpartum_Maternal_Depression_A_Pilot_Study

Cheetham, N., Hanssen, T.A. (2014). The Neonatal Behavioral Observation System: A tool to enhance the transition to motherhood. VÅRD I NORDEN, 14, 48–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/010740831403400410

Brandt, K. Trainings and use of the NBO with multidisciplinary home visitors and other clinicians. Presented at WAIMH, Edinburgh, 2014.

Saito, E. Effectiveness of a nursing intervention for relationship-building between Japanese parents and their problematic breast-feeders using the NBO.  Presented at WAIMH, Edinburgh, 2014.

Paul, C., Nicolson, S., Thomas, N., Chapman, M, Salo, F., Judd, F.  Introducing the NBO into a maternity hospital: the power of babies meeting their mothers and fathers. Presented at WAIMH, Edinburgh, 2014.  

Savage-McGlynn, E., &  Hawthorne, J. The effects of the NBO on parent perception and enhancement of the parent-infant relationship. Presented at WAIMH, Edinburgh, 2014.

Alvarez, M. A. The baby as a person not as a patient: using the NBO in paediatric primary care in an urban Spanish setting. Presented at WAIMH, Edinburgh, 2014. 

McManus, B., Nugent, J. K. (2012). A Neurobehavioral Intervention Incorporated into a State Early Intervention Program is Associated with Higher Perceived Quality of Care Among Parents of High-Risk Newborns. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 41, 3, 381-389. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224821584_A_Neurobehavioral_Intervention_Incorporated_into_a_State_Early_Intervention_Program_is_Associated_with_Higher_Perceived_Quality_of_Care_Among_Parents_of_High-Risk_Newborns

McManus, B.,  &  Nugent, J. K. (2011). Feasibility study of early intervention provider confidence following a neurobehavioural intervention for high-risk newborns. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29:4, 395-403. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233099139_Feasibility_study_of_early_intervention_provider_confidence_following_a_neurobehavioral_intervention_for_high-risk_newborns

Blanchard, Y., Keefer, C., Tynan, K., Nugent, J. K. The Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO): 
Influencing Provider Confidence. Ab Initio International, Summer, 2008: http://www.brazelton-institute.com/abinitio2008spring/index.html

Sanders, L.W, Buckner, E.B.(2006). The Newborn Behavioral Observations system as a nursing intervention to enhance engagement in first-time mothers: feasibility and desirability. Pediatric Nursing, 32, (5), 455-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17100077/

Fishman, J., Vele-Tabaddor, E., Blanchard, Y., Keefer, C., Minear, S., Johnson, L., Nugent, J.K.  The Effect of the NBO on Caregiver Relationships. Ab Initio International, Summer, 2007: http://www.brazelton-institute.com/abinitio2007summer/index.html

McQuiston, S., Kloczko, N., O’Brien, S. Training pediatric residents in the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system: a follow-up study.  Ab Initio International, Summer, 2006. http://www.brazelton-institute.com/abinitio2006summer/index.html.

Nugent, J. D., Alhaffer, D.  The effects of the NBO as an educational and emotional support system for parents of premature infants. Ab Initio International, Summer, 2006. http://www.brazelton-institute.com/abinitio2006summer/index.html

Nugent, J. K., Nicolson, S., Paul, C. (in press). The NBO: a clinical tool to enhance the infant parent relationship in the perinatal period.  In Kristie Brandt, Bruce Perry, Stephen Seligman, Ed Tronick (Eds.). Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. 2nd Edition, Washington, DC., American Psychiatric Publishing. (In publishing).