In vitro fertilization children: early psychosocial development.

Abstract

Following community concerns regarding the status of children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF), 33 children who had received pediatric follow-up were seen for a psychosocial evaluation. Parents were interviewed in a semistructured format by a child psychiatrist regarding their child's development, child-centered problems, parental problems, marital issues, parenting experience, and experience of the IVF program. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to the children by a clinical psychologist. Children's ages ranged from 12 to 37 months (the majority between 12 and 20 months). There was a high incidence of prematurity and twins in the population seen. Twenty-two children had no current problems and seven presented minor problems. Of the four with significant developmental problems, two had been very low-birth weight infants with significant neurological problems and one had severe congenital heart disease. Overall Bayley Scale scores were within the normal range and parents as a group were seen to function well. Problems presented were in accordance with those expected in a population of this age range, particularly considering the high incidence of prematurity.