PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 4 October 2004, pp. 932-940 (doi:10.1542/10.1542/peds.2003-1017-L)
Behavioral Outcomes and Evidence of Psychopathology Among Very Low Birth Weight Infants at Age 20 Years
* Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Department of Justice Studies, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
|| Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Objective. Information on the mental health of very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) children in young adulthood is sparse. We thus sought to examine gender-specific behavioral outcomes and evidence of psychopathology in a cohort of VLBW young adults at 20 years of age.
Methods. We compared a cohort of 241 survivors among VLBW infants who were born between 1977 and 1979 (mean birth weight: 1180 g; mean gestational age at birth: 29.7 weeks), 116 of whom were men and 125 of whom were women, with 233 control subjects from the same population in Cleveland who had normal birth weights (108 men and 124 women). Young adult behavior was assessed at 20 years of age with the Achenbach Young Adult Self-Report and the Young Adult Behavior Checklist for parents. In addition, the young adults and parents completed the ADHD Rating Scale for Adults. Gender-specific outcomes were adjusted for sociodemographic status.
Results. VLBW men reported having significantly fewer delinquent behaviors than normal birth weight (NBW) control subjects, but there were no differences on the Internalizing, Externalizing, or Total Problem Behavior scales. Parents of VLBW men reported significantly more thought problems for their sons than did parents of control subjects. VLBW women reported significantly more withdrawn behaviors and fewer delinquent behavior problems than control subjects. Their rates of internalizing behaviors (which includes anxious/depressed and withdrawn behaviors) above the borderline clinical cutoff were 30% versus 16% (odds ratio: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-4.1). Parents of VLBW women reported significantly higher scores for their daughters on the anxious/depressed, withdrawn, and attention problem subscales compared with control parents. The odds ratios for parent-reported rates above the borderline-clinical cutoff among women for the anxious/depressed subscale was 4.4 (95% CI: 1.4-13.5), for thought problems was 3.7 (95% CI: 1.2-11.6), and for attention problems was 2.4 (95% CI: 1.0-5.5). There were no differences in the young adult self-report of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents of VLBW men reported higher mean scores on the attention subtype of ADHD but not higher rates of ADHD.
Conclusion. The increase in psychopathology among VLBW survivors in young adulthood indicates a need for anticipatory guidance and early intervention that might help to prevent or ameliorate potential psychopathology.
Key Words: very low birth weight • psychopathology • behavior
Abbreviations: VLBW, very low birth weight • NBW, normal birth weight • YASR, Young Adult Self-Report • YABCL, Young Adult Behavior Checklist • CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist • ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder • DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders • SGA, small for gestational age
Accepted Apr 7, 2004.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  Y. Nomura, J. M. Halperin, J. H. Newcorn, C. Davey, W. P. Fifer, D. A. Savitz, and J. Brooks-Gunn The Risk for Impaired Learning-related Abilities in Childhood and Educational Attainment Among Adults Born Near-term J. Pediatr. Psychol., May 1, 2009; 34(4): 406 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Whiteside-Mansell, R. H. Bradley, P. H. Casey, J. J. Fussell, and N. A. Conners-Burrow Triple Risk: Do Difficult Temperament and Family Conflict Increase the Likelihood of Behavioral Maladjustment in Children Born Low Birth Weight and Preterm? J. Pediatr. Psychol., May 1, 2009; 34(4): 396 - 405. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. M. Maguire, F. J. Walther, P. H. T. van Zwieten, S. Le Cessie, J. M. Wit, S. Veen, and on behalf of the Leiden Developmental Care Project Follow-up Outcomes at 1 and 2 Years of Infants Born Less Than 32 Weeks After Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program Pediatrics, April 1, 2009; 123(4): 1081 - 1087. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. W. Doyle and S. Saigal Long-term Outcomes of Very Preterm or Tiny Infants NeoReviews, March 1, 2009; 10(3): e130 - e137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Ratchford and K. M. Beaver Neuropsychological Deficits, Low Self-Control, and Delinquent Involvement: Toward a Biosocial Explanation of Delinquency Criminal Justice and Behavior, February 1, 2009; 36(2): 147 - 162. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. E. Green, E. L. Gesten, M. A. Greenwald, and O. Salcedo Predicting Delinquency in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A Longitudinal Analysis of Early Risk Factors Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, October 1, 2008; 6(4): 323 - 342. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Strang-Karlsson, K. Raikkonen, A.-K. Pesonen, E. Kajantie, E. J. Paavonen, J. Lahti, P. Hovi, K. Heinonen, A.-L. Jarvenpaa, J. G. Eriksson, et al. Very Low Birth Weight and Behavioral Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Adulthood: The Helsinki Study of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Adults Am J Psychiatry, October 1, 2008; 165(10): 1345 - 1353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. M. Bohnert and N. Breslau Stability of Psychiatric Outcomes of Low Birth Weight: A Longitudinal Investigation Arch Gen Psychiatry, September 1, 2008; 65(9): 1080 - 1086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Samara, N. Marlow, D. Wolke, and for the EPICure Study Group Pervasive Behavior Problems at 6 Years of Age in a Total-Population Sample of Children Born at <=25 Weeks of Gestation Pediatrics, September 1, 2008; 122(3): 562 - 573. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. E. Juul, R. J. McPherson, L. A. Bauer, K. J. Ledbetter, C. A. Gleason, and D. E. Mayock A Phase I/II Trial of High-Dose Erythropoietin in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: Pharmacokinetics and Safety Pediatrics, August 1, 2008; 122(2): 383 - 391. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Moster, R. T. Lie, and T. Markestad Long-Term Medical and Social Consequences of Preterm Birth N. Engl. J. Med., July 17, 2008; 359(3): 262 - 273. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Kajantie, P. Hovi, K. Raikkonen, A.-K. Pesonen, K. Heinonen, A.-L. Jarvenpaa, J. G Eriksson, S. Strang-Karlsson, and S. Andersson Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: Leaving the Parental Home and Sexual Relationships--Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults Pediatrics, July 1, 2008; 122(1): e62 - e72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. Schmidt, V. Miskovic, M. H. Boyle, and S. Saigal Shyness and Timidity in Young Adults Who Were Born at Extremely Low Birth Weight Pediatrics, July 1, 2008; 122(1): e181 - e187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Raikkonen, A.-K. Pesonen, K. Heinonen, E. Kajantie, P. Hovi, A.-L. Jarvenpaa, J. G. Eriksson, and S. Andersson Depression in Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: The Helsinki Study of Very Low-Birth-Weight Adults Arch Gen Psychiatry, March 1, 2008; 65(3): 290 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Farooqi, B. Hagglof, G. Sedin, L. Gothefors, and F. Serenius Mental Health and Social Competencies of 10- to 12-Year-Old Children Born at 23 to 25 Weeks of Gestation in the 1990s: A Swedish National Prospective Follow-up Study Pediatrics, July 1, 2007; 120(1): 118 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. N. Greenley, H. G. Taylor, D. Drotar, and N. M. Minich Longitudinal Relationships between Early Adolescent Family Functioning and Youth Adjustment: An Examination of the Moderating Role of Very Low Birth Weight J. Pediatr. Psychol., May 1, 2007; 32(4): 453 - 462. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Radetti, A. Fanolla, L. Pappalardo, and E. Gottardi Prematurity May Be a Risk Factor for Thyroid Dysfunction in Childhood J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2007; 92(1): 155 - 159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S A Reijneveld, M J K de Kleine, A L van Baar, L A A Kollee, C M Verhaak, F C Verhulst, and S P Verloove-Vanhorick Behavioural and emotional problems in very preterm and very low birthweight infants at age 5 years Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2006; 91(6): F423 - F428. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. H. Casey, L. Whiteside-Mansell, K. Barrett, R. H. Bradley, and R. Gargus Impact of Prenatal and/or Postnatal Growth Problems in Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants on School-Age Outcomes: An 8-Year Longitudinal Evaluation Pediatrics, September 1, 2006; 118(3): 1078 - 1086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. B. Dahl, P. I. Kaaresen, J. Tunby, B. H. Handegard, S. Kvernmo, and J. A. Ronning Emotional, Behavioral, Social, and Academic Outcomes in Adolescents Born With Very Low Birth Weight Pediatrics, August 1, 2006; 118(2): e449 - e459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Srinivasan, J. Allsop, S.J. Counsell, J.P. Boardman, A.D. Edwards, and M. Rutherford Smaller Cerebellar Volumes in Very Preterm Infants at Term-Equivalent Age are Associated with the Presence of Supratentorial Lesions AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2006; 27(3): 573 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
