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The Prenatal Development Project
J M Reinisch1, E L Mortensen, S A Sanders
1Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.
Insights
The Prenatal Development Project (PDP) database tracks developmental effects from prenatal drug exposure. This unique dataset aids research into prenatal drug exposure and child development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to hormones and psychoactive drugs can impact development.
- Longitudinal and cross-sectional data are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.
- Existing databases may lack the comprehensive nature of the PDP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Prenatal Development Project (PDP) database.
- To detail subject selection, data collection, and analytical strategies.
- To highlight the database's value for studying prenatal drug exposure effects.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal and cross-sectional data collection since 1981.
- Integration of perinatal information, contemporary evaluations, and Danish register data.
- Unique subject matching procedures and advanced data analytic strategies.
Main Results:
- The PDP database offers a unique breadth and depth of information.
- It combines prospective and cross-sectional perspectives for comprehensive analysis.
- The database facilitates detailed evaluation of prenatal exposure effects.
Conclusions:
- The PDP database is a valuable resource for developmental and psychological research.
- It enables specific investigations into the effects of prenatal drug exposure.
- The comprehensive data supports broad research aims in child development.
Abstract:
The primary aim of the Prenatal Development Project (PDP) is to evaluate the developmental effects of prenatal exposure to steroid hormones and psychoactive drugs, particularly synthetic progestin, corticosteroids and barbiturates. Data collection has taken place at the Psykologisk Institut, now the Institute of Preventive Medicine, since 1981. The PDP database is unique for its breadth and depth as well as its combination of prospective longitudinal and cross-sectional perspectives. This article describes the database, including subject selection, perinatal information, the comprehensive contemporary evaluation and archival information from Danish registers. The unique matching procedures designed specifically for these projects and data analytic strategies are explained. The value of the PDP database is discussed both in relation to specific project aims (evaluating effects of prenatal drug exposure) and in relation to developmental and psychological research in general.