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Beyond birth status: Psychopathological factors associated with cognitive disengagement syndrome in preterm

İbrahim Zeyrek1, Orhan Köksal2, Ahmet Özaslan3,4

  • 1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Diyarbakır Memorial Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.

Applied Neuropsychology. Child
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Prematurity is not an independent risk factor for Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) in school-aged children. Instead, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotional problems, and peer difficulties significantly predict CDS severity.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Preterm birth is associated with various neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) impacts academic and social functioning.
  • Understanding risk factors for CDS in preterm children is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate psychopathological factors linked to CDS in preterm school-aged children.
  • To control for potential confounding variables like inattention, emotional, and peer problems.
  • To determine if prematurity is an independent risk factor for CDS.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative cross-sectional study involving 181 school-aged children (89 preterm, 92 full-term).
  • Utilized validated screening scales for CDS, attention, and emotional/behavioral difficulties (SDQ).
  • Employed t-tests and ANCOVA to analyze group differences and the impact of prematurity after covariate adjustment.

Main Results:

  • Preterm children exhibited significantly higher peer problems (p = .002).
  • Prematurity status was not an independent predictor of CDS severity after controlling for covariates (p = .432).
  • Inattention (ADHD), emotional problems, and peer problems were significant predictors of CDS severity (p < .001, p = .001, p = .004, respectively).

Conclusions:

  • Prematurity itself is not an independent risk factor for CDS in school-aged children.
  • Psychopathological vulnerabilities, especially inattention and social challenges, are primary drivers of CDS severity.
  • Clinical assessments of preterm children should screen for ADHD, emotional, and peer difficulties to manage CDS risk effectively.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHD inattentionCognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS)prematuritypsychopathological factorsschool-aged children

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