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Extremely preterm birth and adolescent mental health in a geographical cohort born in the 1990s

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2013

A. Burnett*
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia School of Psychological Sciences and Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
C. G. Davey
Affiliation:
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
S. J. Wood
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Australia
M. Wilson-Ching
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
C. Molloy
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
J. L. Y. Cheong
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Neonatal Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Australia
L. W. Doyle
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Australia Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Australia
P. J. Anderson
Affiliation:
Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; and Premature Infant Follow-up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr A. Burnett, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. (Email: alice.burnett@mcri.edu.au)

Abstract

Background

Preterm birth confers risk for poor outcome, including mental health problems. Survival of extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks' gestation) or extremely low birthweight (ELBW; <1000 g) infants increased in the 1990s but psychiatric outcomes in older adolescents born preterm since 1990 are not well documented. This study aimed to characterize mental health and personality traits in a prospective geographical cohort of adolescents born EP/ELBW in Victoria, Australia in 1991 and 1992.

Method

At age 18 years, 215 EP/ELBW and 157 normal birthweight (>2499 g) control adolescents completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders, Axis 1 Non-Patient version (SCID-I/NP), the Children's Interview for Psychiatric Syndromes (ChIPS) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) module, and questionnaires assessing recent depression and anxiety symptoms and personality traits.

Results

ADHD prevalence was significantly elevated in EP/ELBW adolescents compared with controls [15% v. 7%; odds ratio (OR) 2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–6.58]. Aside from ADHD, however, EP/ELBW and control adolescents reported very similar outcomes, with other lifetime diagnoses identified in 23% of EP/ELBW and 21% of controls. These were predominantly mood and anxiety disorders (21% EP/ELBW, 20% controls). The groups did not differ in recent depression or anxiety symptoms assessed using questionnaires, and personality traits were also similar.

Conclusions

ADHD was more prevalent in EP/ELBW adolescents than controls, which is consistent with some, but not all, reports on preterm survivors born before the 1990s, and younger preterm children born in the 1990s. The high rates of anxiety and mood disorders were similar in both groups, and comparable with population-based estimates.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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