Child Protection Investigation Specialist (CPIS) Practice Exam

A child characterized by poor growth due to psychosocial factors falls into which category?

1. Organic failure to thrive

2. Non-organic failure to thrive

3. Severe developmental delay

4. Infantile regression

The correct answer is: Non-organic failure to thrive

The response identifies non-organic failure to thrive as the correct category for a child characterized by poor growth due to psychosocial factors. Non-organic failure to thrive specifically refers to growth deficiencies that arise not from any identifiable medical condition, but rather from environmental or psychosocial influences. This can include factors such as neglect, emotional deprivation, or inadequate caregiving, which impact a child’s ability to thrive and grow effectively. In this case, since the child's poor growth is attributed to psychosocial issues rather than medical ones, it clearly aligns with the definition of non-organic failure to thrive. Understanding this distinction is crucial in child protection investigations, as it allows professionals to develop appropriate interventions that address the underlying psychosocial circumstances affecting the child’s wellbeing. Contrastingly, organic failure to thrive is linked to identifiable medical issues such as metabolic disorders or chronic diseases, which is not the case here. Severe developmental delay and infantile regression describe differences in developmental milestones rather than growth issues specifically linked to psychosocial factors, thus further emphasizing why non-organic failure to thrive is the most fitting classification in this scenario.