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Health and development of 8-year-old children whose mothers abused amphetamine during pregnancy

M Eriksson1, L Billing, G Steneroth

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska Institute, St. Göran's Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica
|November 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Children exposed to amphetamine in utero showed normal physical health and cognitive development by age eight. However, increased aggressive behavior and peer problems were observed, particularly with full-term exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Substance Abuse Research

Background:

  • Maternal amphetamine use during pregnancy poses risks to child development.
  • Long-term effects of prenatal amphetamine exposure require further investigation.
  • Understanding developmental outcomes is crucial for intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the long-term physical, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes of children exposed to amphetamine in utero.
  • To investigate the impact of prenatal amphetamine exposure on development up to eight years of age.
  • To explore correlations between exposure duration, custody status, and developmental trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective follow-up of 65 children born to amphetamine-addicted mothers.
  • Home-based assessments at eight years of age.
  • Evaluation of physical health, growth, IQ, psychometric performance, and behavior.

Main Results:

  • Only 30% of children remained in their biological mothers' custody by age eight.
  • Physical health and growth were normal; IQ and psychometric test performance were within normal limits.
  • Increased aggressive behavior and peer-related problems were noted, especially in children with continuous prenatal exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal amphetamine exposure may lead to behavioral issues despite normal physical and cognitive development.
  • Continuous exposure throughout pregnancy appears to exacerbate behavioral problems.
  • Socio-environmental factors did not correlate with the observed outcomes in this cohort.

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