What Do We Know About the Preterm Behavioral Phenotype? A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatric Psychiatry
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Preterm birth elevates the risk for childhood and adolescent psychopathology compared to full-term birth.
• An inverse relationship exists between gestational age at birth and the later risk of psychopathology.
• Emotional and behavioral adjustment problems in preterm children present distinct symptomatology and comorbidity profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively characterize the preterm behavioral phenotype.
• To identify knowledge gaps concerning symptom evolution and disorder co-occurrence.
• To explore associations between the preterm behavioral phenotype and chronological age/degree of prematurity.

Main Methods:

• State-of-the-art literature review.
• Synthesis of current research on preterm birth and psychopathology.
• Analysis of proposed preterm behavioral phenotype characteristics.

Main Results:

• A distinct preterm behavioral phenotype is increasingly recognized.
• This phenotype is characterized by the frequent co-occurrence of symptoms related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and anxiety disorders.
• Key knowledge gaps remain regarding symptom evolution and comorbidity within this phenotype.

Conclusions:

• The preterm behavioral phenotype represents a unique cluster of emotional and behavioral challenges in this population.
• Further research is needed to understand the developmental trajectory and clinical implications of this phenotype.
• Understanding these distinct profiles is crucial for targeted interventions and support for preterm-born individuals.