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Development and predictors of childhood mental health problems in former extremely preterm infants

Silje Katrine Elgen Fevang1, Mari Hysing2, Kristian Sommerfelt1

  • 1Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine and dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Early Human Development
|July 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Mental health problems in extremely preterm (EP) children decreased from age five to eleven, but early issues and lower-normal IQ predicted later difficulties.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Extremely preterm (EP) birth (<28 weeks gestation or <1000g) poses risks for neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Longitudinal data on mental health trajectories in EP children are crucial for understanding developmental challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the development of mental health problems from age five to eleven in children born EP.
  • To identify predictors of mental health problems in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • A national Norwegian cohort of 162 extremely preterm children (48% of eligible) were assessed at ages five and eleven.
  • Parental reports using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were used.
  • A Total Difficulties Score (TDS) at the 90th percentile (TDS90) indicated a mental health problem.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of mental health problems (TDS90) decreased from 32% at age five to 23% at age eleven (p=0.025).
  • Moderate stability was observed, with 25/52 children with TDS90 at five also having it at eleven, and 25/37 at eleven also having it at five.
  • Mental health problems and an IQ between 70-84 at age five independently predicted TDS90 at age eleven.

Conclusions:

  • While the overall rate of mental health problems declined, individual trajectories showed moderate persistence.
  • Early mental health issues and borderline intellectual functioning (IQ 70-84) in preschool are significant predictors of later mental health challenges in extremely preterm children.
Abstract

Keywords:
DevelopmentExtremely pretermMental healthPredictorsThe strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ)

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