1
|
Shaw RJ, Givrad S, Poe C, Loi EC, Hoge MK, Scala M. Neurodevelopmental, Mental Health, and Parenting Issues in Preterm Infants. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1565. [PMID: 37761526 PMCID: PMC10528009 DOI: 10.3390/children10091565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization in its recommendations for the care of preterm infants has drawn attention to the need to address issues related to family involvement and support, including education, counseling, discharge preparation, and peer support. A failure to address these issues may translate into poor outcomes that extend across the lifespan. In this paper, we review the often far-reaching impact of preterm birth on the health and wellbeing of the parents and highlight the ways in which psychological stress may have a negative long-term impact on the parent-child interaction, attachment, and the styles of parenting. This paper addresses the following topics: (1) neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, including cognitive, sensory, and motor difficulties, (2) long-term mental health issues in premature infants that include elevated rates of anxiety and depressive disorders, autism, and somatization, which may affect social relationships and quality of life, (3) adverse mental health outcomes for parents that include elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress, as well as increased rates of substance abuse, and relationship strain, (4) negative impacts on the parent-infant relationship, potentially mediated by maternal sensitivity, parent child-interactions, and attachment, and (5) impact on the parenting behaviors, including patterns of overprotective parenting, and development of Vulnerable Child Syndrome. Greater awareness of these issues has led to the development of programs in neonatal mental health and developmental care with some data suggesting benefits in terms of shorter lengths of stay and decreased health care costs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Shaw
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (E.C.L.); (C.P.)
| | - Soudabeh Givrad
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, 525 E 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Celeste Poe
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (E.C.L.); (C.P.)
| | - Elizabeth C. Loi
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (E.C.L.); (C.P.)
| | - Margaret K. Hoge
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Melissa Scala
- Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cassiano RG, Gaspardo CM, Linhares MB. Neonatal stress and behavior problems in preschool children born preterm. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 28:500-511. [PMID: 35531999 DOI: 10.1177/13591045221098521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present longitudinal study was to examine the effect of preterm childbirth, acute neonatal stress, and child behavior at 18-36 months of age on later behavior outcomes in 4-5-year-old children. The sample comprised of 70 children who were born preterm. The neonatal characteristics of children were assessed during hospitalization by reviewing their medical records and utilizing the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale. Behavior problems were evaluated by the maternal-report in the Child Behavior Checklist 1½-5 years. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. Also, the repeated measures analysis of variance and the McNemar test for paired samples were performed. Daily exposure of the infants to high neonatal acute stress during NICU hospitalization and more behavior problems at 18-36 months of age was associated with more total and externalizing behavior problems at 4-5 years of age. Lower gestational age at childbirth and more internalizing behavior problems at 18-36 months was associated with more internalizing problems at 4-5 years old. The present study showed the combination of predictors of neonatal conditions and behavioral problems at childhood, highlighting the relevance of the implementation of developmental care in the NICU and follow-up the preterm infants after discharge programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Gm Cassiano
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, 54539University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia M Gaspardo
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, 54539University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Bm Linhares
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, 54539University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lowe J, Fuller JF, Dempsey AG, Do B, Bann CM, Das A, Gustafson KE, Vohr BR, Hintz SR, Watterberg KL. Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm. Pediatr Res 2023; 93:689-695. [PMID: 35715492 PMCID: PMC9758271 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02113-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extremely preterm (EPT) birth has been related to dysregulation of stress responses and behavioral/learning problems at school age. Early adverse experiences can blunt HPA axis reactivity. We hypothesized that an attenuated cortisol awakening response would be associated with developmental and behavioral problems at school age in EPT children. METHODS This secondary analysis of a sub-cohort of the SUPPORT study included children born between 24 and 27 weeks, evaluated at 6-7 years with a neurodevelopmental battery and cortisol measures. Differences were tested between EPT and a term-born group. Relationships of cortisol awakening response to test scores were analyzed. RESULTS Cortisol was measured in 110 EPT and 29 term-born 6-7 year olds. Unadjusted WISC-IV and NEPSY-II scores were significantly worse among EPT children only. Conners Parent Rating Scale behavior scores were significantly worse among EPT children. After adjusting for covariates, blunted cortisol awakening responses were found to be associated with poorer scores on memory tests and greater problems with inattention for the EPT group (p < 0.05) only. CONCLUSIONS Among children born EPT, we identified an association of blunted cortisol awakening response with memory and inattention problems. This may have implications related to stress reactivity and its relationship to learning problems in children born EPT. CLINICALTRIALS GOV ID Extended Follow-up at School Age for the SUPPORT Neuroimaging and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (NEURO) Cohort: NCT00233324. IMPACT In children born EPT, stress reactivity may have a relationship to learning problems. Cortisol awakening response should be a component for follow-up in EPT born children. Components of executive function, such as memory and attention, are related to stress reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean Lowe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Janell F Fuller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Allison G Dempsey
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Barbara Do
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Carla M Bann
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Abhik Das
- Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - Betty R Vohr
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Susan R Hintz
- Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kristi L Watterberg
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Patterns and Correlates of Changes in Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among Children with Congenital Heart Disease. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2022; 43:e399-e406. [PMID: 34855689 DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000001051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine patterns of changes in emotional and behavioral problems among children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and investigate associated factors in different domains. METHOD The study sample comprised 327 pairs of children with CHD (aged 1.5-12 yrs) and their parents who participated in 2 waves of a survey in Taiwan from 2017 to 2019. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to evaluate the children's emotional and behavioral problems during both waves. The scores were later used to determine the patterns of changes in emotional and behavioral problems. Multinomial logistic regression was then applied to examine factors associated with varied patterns of changes in emotional and behavioral problems. RESULTS Five patterns of changes in emotional and behavioral problems were identified: "persistent normal," "initial problematic," "worsening," "persistent problematic," and "subclinical." Among the factors examined, parenting stress was consistently associated with different patterns of change in emotional and behavioral problems. Specifically, children with parents who had higher levels of parenting stress were more likely to belong to the "initial problematic," "persistent problematic," or "subclinical" groups than to the "persistent normal" group. Other significant factors included sex, number of surgeries, and perceived health of parents. CONCLUSION This study highlights the potential role of parenting stress in changes in emotional and behavioral problems. Accordingly, intervention programs aimed at relieving parenting stress may help reduce the development and worsening of emotional and behavioral problems among children with CHD.
Collapse
|
5
|
Quiñones-Camacho LE, Hoyniak CP, Wakschlag LS, Perlman SB. Getting in synch: Unpacking the role of parent-child synchrony in the development of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 34:1-13. [PMID: 34521492 PMCID: PMC8920952 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
While substantial research supports the role of parent-child interactions on the emergence of psychiatric symptoms, few studies have explored biological mechanisms for this association. The current study explored behavioral and neural parent-child synchronization during frustration and play as predictors of internalizing and externalizing behaviors across a span of 1.5 years. Parent-child dyads first came to the laboratory when the child was 4-5 years old and completed the Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic Observation Schedule: Biological Synchrony (DB-DOS: BioSync) task while functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data were recorded. Parents reported on their child's internalizing and externalizing behaviors using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) four times over 1.5 years. Latent growth curve (LGC) modeling was conducted to assess neural and behavioral synchrony as predictors of internalizing and externalizing trajectories. Consistent with previous investigations in this age range, on average, internalizing and externalizing behaviors decreased over the four time points. Parent-child neural synchrony during a period of play predicted rate of change in internalizing but not externalizing behaviors such that higher parent-child neural synchrony was associated with a more rapid decrease in internalizing behaviors. Our results suggest that a parent-child dyad's ability to coordinate neural activation during positive interactions might serve as a protective mechanism in the context of internalizing behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline P. Hoyniak
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
| | - Lauren S. Wakschlag
- Northwestern University, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine and Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences
| | - Susan B. Perlman
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Brandsma FL, Spruijt MS, Rijken M, Tan RNGB, Oepkes D, Lopriore E, van Klink JMM. Behavioural outcome in twin-twin transfusion syndrome survivors treated with laser surgery. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2020; 105:304-309. [PMID: 31371433 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-317080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for behavioural problems in twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) survivors treated with fetoscopic laser coagulation. DESIGN Observational cohort study. SETTING National referral center for fetal therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. PATIENTS Behavioural outcome was assessed in 417 TTTS survivors, at the age of 2 years. INTERVENTIONS Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist for their twins. Antenatal, neonatal and follow-up data including Bayley III and a neurological exam were recorded from the medical database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The incidence of and risk factors for behavioural problems. RESULTS 332 twin pregnancies (664 fetuses) were treated with fetoscopic laser for TTTS between 2008 and 2015. For 517 children eligible for follow-up, 417 (81%) Child Behavior Checklist questionnaires were completed. The study group was born at a mean gestational age of 32.8 weeks±3.2. Total behavioural problems within the borderline to clinical range were reported in 8% (95% CI 5.9 to 11.2) of survivors, compared with 10% in the general Dutch population (p=0.12). No difference between donors and recipients was detected (p=0.84). Internalising and externalising problems were reported in 9.4% (95% CI 6.9 to 12.6) and 11.5% (95% CI 8.8 to 15.0), respectively. Severe neurodevelopmental impairment was more frequent in the children with behavioural problems. High maternal educational level was associated with lower behavioural problem scores. CONCLUSION Parents of twins treated with fetoscopic laser therapy for TTTS do not report more behavioural problems compared with general population norms. More behavioural problems are reported in children with severe neurodevelopmental impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fieke L Brandsma
- Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Monique Rijken
- Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ratna N G B Tan
- Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dick Oepkes
- Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Lopriore
- Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fitzallen GC, Taylor HG, Bora S. What Do We Know About the Preterm Behavioral Phenotype? A Narrative Review. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:154. [PMID: 32269532 PMCID: PMC7109291 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth is associated with a significantly increased risk for childhood and adolescent psychopathology relative to full-term birth, with an inverse relationship between gestational age at birth and later risk for psychopathology. The manifestation of symptomatology and comorbidity profiles of emotional and behavioral adjustment problems in this high-risk group have been shown to be distinct from the broader pediatric population. Acknowledging these differences, a preterm behavioral phenotype has been proposed and increasingly recognized, highlighting the unique, frequent co-occurrence of symptomatology associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and anxiety disorders. The current state-of-the-art review provides a comprehensive characterization of this phenotype to date and further highlights key knowledge gaps primarily regarding the evolution of symptoms, co-occurrence of disorders and/or symptomatology within the phenotype, and associations of the phenotype with chronological age and degree of prematurity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grace C Fitzallen
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Mothers, Babies and Women's Health Program, Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - H Gerry Taylor
- Biobehavioral Health Centre, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Samudragupta Bora
- Mothers, Babies and Women's Health Program, Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|