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Mental Health in Children Born Extremely Preterm Without Severe Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Silje Katrine Elgen Fevang1, Mari Hysing2, Trond Markestad3

  • 1Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; and silje.elgen@uib.no.

Pediatrics
|March 6, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Extremely preterm/low birth weight children face higher risks for autism, inattention, anxiety, and OCD. These mental health challenges in children born extremely preterm/low birth weight were similar across genders.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Extremely preterm/extremely low birth weight (EP/ELBW) children are a vulnerable population.
  • Understanding mental health challenges in this group is crucial for early intervention.
  • Previous studies highlight potential developmental risks, but comprehensive mental health assessments are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and gender-specific characteristics of mental health problems in EP/ELBW children at age 11.
  • To compare mental health outcomes in EP/ELBW children (without severe disabilities) to a reference group.

Main Methods:

  • A national cohort of EP/ELBW children and a reference group were assessed at 11 years of age.
  • Parent and teacher reports were used to evaluate symptoms of autism, ADHD, anxiety, and OCD.
  • Pervasive mental health problems were defined by high percentile scores from multiple validated questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • EP/ELBW children showed significantly increased risks for pervasive autism symptoms (OR 4.3), inattention (OR 8.3), anxiety (OR 2.3), and OCD (OR 2.6).
  • Overall, 54% of EP/ELBW children had at least one mental health problem compared to 21% in the reference group (OR 4.5).
  • No significant gender interactions were found for mental health outcomes in EP/ELBW children.

Conclusions:

  • EP/ELBW children, even without severe disabilities, exhibit a higher risk for various mental health issues including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and OCD.
  • The observed mental health disparities between EP/ELBW children and their peers warrant targeted support and monitoring.
  • Gender did not significantly influence the mental health outcomes in this cohort of EP/ELBW children.
Abstract

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