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Published on: August 25, 2014
Editorial: Is Preterm Birth Overlooked in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry?
Eilis Kennedy1, Elizabeth O'Nions1, Dieter Wolke2
1The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, and University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Preterm birth, a significant early adversity, is linked to later mental health issues. Improved neonatal care increases survival rates for extreme preterm births, prompting research into their long-term psychosocial development.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Obstetric factors are established risks for poor mental health outcomes.
- Preterm birth (before 37 weeks' gestation) is a common early adversity with lifelong health and developmental impacts.
- Global incidence of preterm birth was 10.6% in 2014, affecting nearly 15 million infants.
Discussion:
- Neonatal care advances have improved survival for extreme preterm births (<28 weeks' gestation) in high-income nations.
- This increased survival rate necessitates a deeper understanding of extreme preterm birth's long-term effects.
- Focus is shifting towards the psychosocial development of extremely preterm infants throughout their lifespan.
Key Insights:
- Preterm birth is a critical period of early adversity.
- Survival rates for extreme preterm birth have risen due to medical advancements.
- Long-term psychosocial development following extreme preterm birth is a growing area of research.
Outlook:
- Further research is crucial to understand the lifelong psychosocial trajectories of individuals born extremely preterm.
- Developing targeted interventions for this vulnerable population is essential.
- Continued advancements in neonatal care and follow-up strategies are needed.
Abstract:
Obstetric factors have long been recognized as risk factors for the later development of poor mental health. One of the most consistently reported of these associations is for preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks' gestation), a form of early adversity that impacts health and development across the life course. Preterm birth is not uncommon: in 2014, 10.6% of live births globally (nearly 15 million babies) were preterm.1 Advances in neonatal care since the early 1990s have dramatically increased the numbers of babies who survive extreme preterm birth (birth at <28 weeks' gestation) in high-income countries. This has led to growing interest in how extreme preterm birth impacts longer term outcomes including psychosocial development across the life span.
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