Psychiatric symptoms and risk factors in adults born preterm with very low birthweight or born small for gestational age at term

Astrid M W Lærum,Stian Lydersen,Ann-Mari Brubakk,Solveig Klæbo Reitan,Kari Anne I Evensen,Jon Skranes,Marit S Indredavik

doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2202-8

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to examine psychiatric symptoms in adults born preterm with very low birthweight or born at term small for gestational age compared with normal birthweight peers, and examine associations with perinatal factors and childhood motor and cognitive function.MethodsIn this longitudinal cohort study, one preterm born group with very low birthweight (VLBW: birthweight ≤1500 g), one term-born Small for Gestational Age (SGA: birthweight <10th percentile) group and one term-born non-SGA control group, were assessed at 26 years of age. Primary outcomes were scores on self-reported questionnaires: Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment - Adult Self-Report, The Autism-Spectrum Quotient and Peters et al. Delusions Inventory. Exposure variables were perinatal data, while childhood motor and cognitive function were examined as possible early markers.ResultsBoth the preterm VLBW and the term SGA group reported higher levels of attention, internalizing and externalizing problems compared to the control group. In addition, the VLBW participants reported more critical items and a higher proportion had intermediate level autistic traits, while the SGA participants reported more intrusive behavior. Increasing length of respiratory support and hospital stay in the neonatal period, and motor problems in early adolescence, were associated with adult psychiatric symptoms in the VLBW group.ConclusionsPsychiatric symptoms were frequent in the preterm VLBW group and also in the term-born SGA group. Those who were sickest as babies were most at risk. Motor problems can possibly serve as an early marker of adult psychiatric symptoms in low birthweight individuals.

Highlights

We aimed to examine psychiatric symptoms in adults born preterm with very low birthweight or born at term small for gestational age compared with normal birthweight peers, and examine associations with perinatal factors and childhood motor and cognitive function
Birthweight, gestational age and head circumference at birth differed between groups by study design
Mean Apgar score at 5 min was lower in the very low birthweight (VLBW) group than in the control group

Summary

Introduction

We aimed to examine psychiatric symptoms in adults born preterm with very low birthweight or born at term small for gestational age compared with normal birthweight peers, and examine associations with perinatal factors and childhood motor and cognitive function. Preterm birth and low birthweight are risk factors for later neurodevelopmental difficulties, including psychiatric symptoms, motor problems and poor cognitive and adaptive/social functioning [1,2,3,4]. Term-born small for gestational age (SGA) children are reported to have reduced neurodevelopmental function [11] compared with their normal birthweight peers, with lower fine motor [12] and cognitive function [13], and more emotional, behavioral and attention deficit symptoms in adolescence [14]. Further knowledge about adult psychiatric outcomes and possible predictive factors is needed

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