923 Do Low Birth Weight Individuals Outgrow Psychiatric Problems as They Enter Adulthood?

Abstract

Background and aims: Assess the continuity of psychiatric symptoms and disorders from adolescence to young adult age. Methods: In a population based follow up at age 14 (T1) and age 20 (T2) of 38 persons born with very low birth weight (VLBW: birth weight ≤1500 g), 43 term born small for gestational age (SGA: birth weight < 10th percentile) and 64 term born controls, mental health was assessed using psychiatric interview; Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School aged children (K-SADS) and Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Outcome at T1 and T2 was compared. Psychiatric problems were defined as having psychiatric disorders or symptoms ≥75% of diagnostic criteria. Results: The VLBW and the SGA group had more psychiatric problems and lower mean CGAS scores at T2 than controls (p≤0.02). Anxiety disorders and ADHD were the most frequent disorders. In the VLBW group 10 of 13 with psychiatric problems at T1 still had problems at T2; of these 6 of 8 with symptoms at T1 had disorders at T2. In the term SGA group, 9 of 10 with psychiatric problems at T1 still had problems at T2; of these 4 of 6 with symptoms at T1 had disorders at T2. Increasing CGAS at T1 reduced the risk for having a psychiatric disorder at T2 in both low birth weight groups. Conclusion: The low birth weight individuals did not outgrow psychiatric problems as they entered adulthood, and low psychosocial function in adolescence was associated with psychiatric diagnoses in young adulthood.