There have been conflicting reports from Russia. It seems some adoptions have proceeded, others have been postponed.

In the interim, note that countries such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are viable altnernatives.

He is the proud father to seven adopted children of his own.

To meet the needs of adoptive families, he has established the Russian and Ukrainian Private Adoption Project.

Private adoptions (also called independent adoptions) offer families greater flexibility and more information about their child.

Dr. Federici oversees each adoption personally.

Researchers found that treatment with Omega-3 fatty acids was superior to placebo in controlling symptoms autism and associated symptoms including hyperactivity and stereotypy.  Amminger and colleagues conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.  The primary outcome measure was a change in scores from baseline to week 6 on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC).

Cicchetti, D. (2001). The impact of child maltreatment and psychopathology on neuroednocrine functioning. Development and Psychopathology 13, 783-804.

The findings of this study concluded that maltreated children with reported clinical-level internalizing problems have higher cortisol levels compared to non-maltreated boys who had lower levels of cortisol. The findings conclude that maltreatment and different forms of psychopathology have an effect on neuroendocrine regulation.

Chisholm, K. (1998). A Three year follow-up of attachment and indiscriminate friendliness in children adopted from Romanian orphanages.  Child Development, 69 (4), 1092-1106.

This research article examines attachment and indiscriminately friendly behavior in children who spent at least 8 months in a Romanian orphanage (RO). The findings of this research indicate that RO children displayed significantly more insecure attachment behaviors in comparison to the control groups.  These children had significantly more indiscriminately friendly behavior, behavior problems, and parents reported more parenting stress.

Delahanty, D., Nugent N., Christopher, N., Waltsh, M. (2005).  Initial urinary epinephrine and cortisol levels predict acute PTSD symptoms in child trauma victims.  Psychoneuroendocrinology, 121 (2).

Results of this study indicated that elevated initial cortisol and epinephrine levels immediately following a traumatic event continued to predict the development of acute PTSD symptoms; particularly in boys.

Forbes, H., Dziegielewski, S. (2003) “Issues facing adoptive mothers of children with special needs.”  Journal of Social Work, 3 (3):  301-320.

The purpose of this article is to identify and understand the challenges that mothers face after they adopt special needs children.  The study examines adoptive mothers who sought therapeutic assistance after the placement of their child and the difficulties they endured.

Federici, R.S. (1999).  Neuropsychological evaluation and rehabilitation of the post institutionalized child.  Dr. Federici Articles.  Retrieved October 21, 2007 from http.drfederici.com/post_child.htm

Dr. Federici evaluates post-institutionalized children and the factors associated with inadequate care.  Assessment and treatment modalities are examined as are comprehensive neurological approaches.

Federici, R.S (n.d.).  Raising the post-institutionalized child risks, challenges and innovative treatment.  Dr. Federici Articles.  Retrieved October 21, 2007 from http.drfederici.com/rasing_child.htm

Risk factors of adopted children who have been in an institutionalized setting are evaluated along with current statistics of medical conditions associated with these settings.  Innovative treatments for infants and toddlers are summarized along with guidelines for parents.

Ghuman J. K., (2007). Comorbidity moderates response to methylphenidate in the preschoolers with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 17 (5), 563-580.

According to a recent analysis of data from the Preschoolers with ADHD Treatment Study (PATS), funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), preschoolers who are diagnosed with ADHD  and who also have three or more coexisting disorders, are not likely to respond to treatment with the stimulant methylphenidate, regardless of dosage,

Goodman, W.K., Murphy, T.K, Storch, E.A. (2007).  Risk of adverse behavioral effects with pediatric use of antidepressants.  Psychopharmacology, 191 (1), 87-96.

This article reviews the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to issue a “black box” warning about the risks associated with children and adolescents during the treatment of antidepressants.

Gunnar, M.  (2001). Effects of early deprivation. Findings from orphanage-reared infants and children.  In C. Nelson and M. Luciana (Eds.) Handbook of developmental cognitive neuroscience (617-629).

The focus of this article is to discuss and review the research concerning physical, cognitive, and emotional development of children adopted from Romanian orphanages over the last 15 years.  The trends of early deprivation and possible outcomes are also evaluated.

Gunnar, M. & Cheatham, C. (2003).  “ Brain and behavior interface:  stress and the developing brain.”  Infant Mental Health Journal, 24 (3), 195-211.

Research on infants and children who have been maltreated early in life is reviewed to show stress hormone activity.  The researchers focus on enhancing care later in development and the possible reversal of the effects on behavior and neurobiology of early experiences.  The authors review literature in the field and conclude that the longer the child is neglected the higher degree of developmental delays occur.  Studies on the neuroendocrin systems show the effects on the HPA system and CORT systems in response these stressors.

Hughes, J.W., Watkins, L., Blumenthal, J.A., Kuhn, C., Sherwood, A. (2004). Depression and anxiety symptoms are related to increased 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion among healthy middle-aged women.  Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57; 353-358.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between levels of self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety and 24-hour urinary catecholamine excretion.  Norepinephrine, epinephrine and cortisol are examined.

Levy, F., Swanson, J. M. (2001).  Timing space and ADHD: the dopamine theory revisited.  Australian and > New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35, 504-511.

The objective of this study was to review the dopamine theory of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in terms of the advances made in research over the past decade.  Serotonergic agents were found to have a calming affect on psycho-stimulants in which the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene was disrupted.

Moms who dine on fish could boost baby’s brain (2007). Pharmacy Times, 82.

This article comments on research from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), which found that women who eat seafood during pregnancy may increase brainpower of their children.  The authors list fish oil supplements as an alternative, and found that women who took these supplements during pregnancy had children with better developmental skills.

Oades, R.D. (2005).  The control of repsonsiveness in ADHD by catecholamines: evidence for dopaminergic, noradrenergic and interactive roles.  Developmental Science, 8 (2), 122-131.

The neurological base of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) from a neurochemistry and psychopharmacology standpoint, as well as the catecholamine based behavioral systems, are evaluated by Oades and colleagues. Dopamine and noradrenalin neurotransmission to the motor and cognitive symptoms of ADHD were studied.

Purvis, K.B., Cross, D.R., & Kellerman, G. (2006). “An experimental evaluation of targeted amino acid therapy with at-risk children. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 12 (6), 591-592.

This article explains the connection that neurotransmitter levels and ratios have on the behavior of at-risk youth.  This comprehensive study found that targeted amino acid therapy, in conjunction with scheduled feedings and behavioral interventions, regulated the brain chemistry in children adopted from Russian orphanages.

Watts-English, T., Fortson, B., Gibler, N., Hooper, S. De Bellis, M. (2006).“ The psychobiology of maltreatment in childhood.”  Journal of Social Issues, 62 (4) 717-736.

Authors of this article review empirical findings of neuropsychological functioning in children with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Serotonin deregulation, cortisol, the limbic system and neuro-imaging techniques are evaluated in regards to brain development.

Weidman-Becker, A. (n.d.).  Child Abuse and neglect:  effects on child development, brain development, and interpersonal relationships.  International Adoption Article Directory.  Retrieved October 17, 2007 from http://www.adoptionarticlesdirectory.com/article.php?id=42&act=print

This article is intended for parents and individuals in the mental health field.  It clearly defines the correlation between neglect and abuse early in life and the long lasting effects it has on brain development.

Weidman-Becker, A. (n.d.).  Recognizing attachment concerns in children.  International Adoption Article Directory.  Retrieved October 17, 2007 from http://www.adoptionarticlesdirectory.com/article.php?id=45&act=print

The focus of this article is to provide the audience with background information on attachment, how attachment disorders develop, and why healthy brain chemistry is reflective of healthy attachment in the first two years of life.  The author describes what attachment disorders look like in all developmental stages of childhood.

Yehuda, R., Southwick, S., Giller, E.L., Ma, X., Mason, J.W., (1992).  Urinary catecholamine excreation and severtiy of PTSD symptoms in Vietnam combat veterans.  Journal of Nerv. Mental Disorders, 180 (5), 321-325.

This study found that urinary dopamine and norepinephrine levels were significantly correlated with the severity of PTSD symptoms.  The researchers concluded that these findings supported the theory that enhanced sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation plays a major role in PTSD and that increased SNS arousal may be closely linked to the severity of certain PTSD clusters.

Over the past decade there has been a tremendous influx of children coming from post-institutionalized settings in various Easter Bloc, South American and Far Eastern countries. These children have often been placed in hospital-based or classic institutional settings following illnesses or even death of the biological parents or the parents general inability to care for the child’s emotional needs. Children from Eastern Bloc countries in particular have been rapidly placed in institutionalized settings due to the demise of the communist systems which have rendered many people poverty stricken and homeless with a subsequent inability to care for an of the medical, physical or psychological needs of their children.

Children having any type of medical problem (even mild) are often placed in hospital settings or institutional care programs which are state run. For example, children who have been described as being somewhat “slow” or even suspected to have mental retardation (i.e. the Russian word Oligophrenia) are often called morons, imbeciles or some other term pertaining to mental deficiency. These types of children are often placed in neuropsychiatric facilities in great volumes.

Additionally, children with even mild medical problems such as orthopedic damage or some other type of crippling pattern in which they are not able to walk (but could be walking with adequate surgical interventions and physical therapy) are also placed in hospital-based institutions.

Children with somewhat more complicated medical problems such as hepatitis, hemophilia, congenital malformations and deformities, mental retardation or classical autism are often placed institutions for the rest of their lives.

The principal problem with this situation of placing children in hospital-based or institutional settings for a defined “problem” is that many of the diagnoses are typically incorrect or over exaggerated. Once the children are placed in institutional settings, particularly those in the Easter Bloc countries of Romania, Moldovia, and various sections of the former Soviet Union, they are destined to remain there for life without appropriate medical or psychiatric/psychological interventions.

In particular, many of the children who are placed in neuropsychiatric facilities have been termed mentally deficient or Oligophrenic. More often, the child’s mental delays are the direct result of very poor pre and post-natal factors, nutritional and medical neglect, in addition to a child having a situation such as simple speech and language delays in their own native language which have been misconstrued as mental deficiencies.

Once children are placed in these types of institutional settings, they are often moved repetitively. For example, infants are often placed in some type of hospital or nursing setting for the first 1-2 years of their life and then transferred to another setting which can often last from 2-5 years. It should be emphasized that, during these critical years (birth through 4-5 years old) these institutions typically lack any and all type of stimulation, language and intellectual-cognitive development, early school-based programs or even appropriate medical diagnosis are care. So often, children are starved, neglected, and isolated to their cribs.

It has been well documented that many of these children have been found to be tied to their cribs or isolated and sheltered from human contact. Combined with profound medical, nutritional and often physical neglect and abuse, these children regress to very primitive states to where any and all type of sensory-motor, speech and language, and even intellectual abilities have become stagnated and, over the course of time, typically regress and deteriorate to levels where they appear truly mentally deficient when this was not the starting pattern in their lives.

As the institutional child continues to “transfer” from institutional setting to institutional setting, the level of deprivation often increases. Very often, children are “warehoused” in the institutional settings to where there are up to five children in a bed with literally dozens of children per on caretaker who is often completely oblivious to their physical and psychological needs. It has also been documented that there is often a “medical director” assigned to the facility who rarely shows up. The children often receive medical care when they are in an acute or life threatening situation, and the medical care is often very poor and can sometimes cause even more problems in the actual illness of the child (i.e. the treatment can sometimes be worse than the actual illness).

It has been this writer’s experience based on visiting multiple institutions in Easter Bloc settings that the profound levels of neglect intensify with each year the child is alive. Basic physical and nutritional needs are not provided which results in the child’s brain and physical development slowing to where it is almost impossible to actually detect the age of the child. There have been many children observed who have the appearance of a 6 to 7 year old when in fact they are actually in their early or mid-teenage years. Additionally, many children have been literally tied down to their cribs for days, weeks and even months at a time, with even their feedings being given while they are in their cribs. Over the course of time, there is a literally no movement and many of the children lose many and all previously acquired language.

Additionally, many of the children who have some level of physical problem, particularly orthopedic problems in which they are not able to mobilize around the institution, become targets of physical and sexual abuse which further causes post traumatic stress disorder features, profound depression and a “regression” to a stage of early infancy in which they are literally “shutting out” any and all type of environmental and interpersonal contact. More simply, children look for any type of safety and security when they are being totally deprived and neglected.

What tends to emerge in the child who has received multiple institutional placements combined with profound neglect and abuse on a wide scale level is the “regression factor” or the child who “disintegrates” and loses motor, sensory, speech and language, and intellectual skills. Once this regression occurs, it tends to be insidious and progressive.