Very premature babies are at risk for psychiatric conditions such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), emotional problems, and autism, according to a new study from Great Britain.
The British researchers evaluated data on 219 babies who had been born after 26 weeks or less of gestation. Almost one in four had a psychiatric problem at age 11.
"Clinically, the findings suggest that much greater emphasis should be placed on early cognitive and psychological monitoring of extremely preterm children for emerging neuropsychiatric and emotional disorders," the authors wrote in their report, which appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Labels: psychiatric_illness
Posted By: Jane St. Clair