Symptoms Associated With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorders in School-Aged Children Prenatally Exposed to Substances

Prenatal exposure to substances may influence a child’s neurodevelopment and impact on subsequent mental health. In a hospital-based population of school-aged children prenatally exposed to opiates and a number of illicit substances (n = 57), we evaluated mental health symptoms associated with atten...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Substance abuse : research and treatment 2018, Vol.12, p.1178221818765773-1178221818765773
Main Authors: Sandtorv, Lisbeth Beate, Fevang, Silje Katrine Elgen, Nilsen, Sondre Aasen, Bøe, Tormod, Gjestad, Rolf, Haugland, Siren, Elgen, Irene Bircow
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Alcohol
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Autism
Child development
Children
Children & youth
Drug use
Families & family life
Foster care
Higher education
Hyperactivity
Intelligence tests
Mental health
Narcotics
Neonatal abstinence syndrome
Opioids
Original Research
Pediatrics
Population
Prenatal development
Prenatal exposure
Questionnaires
Symptoms
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Summary:Prenatal exposure to substances may influence a child’s neurodevelopment and impact on subsequent mental health. In a hospital-based population of school-aged children prenatally exposed to opiates and a number of illicit substances (n = 57), we evaluated mental health symptoms associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Questionnaire, revision IV (SNAP-IV) and the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and compared the scores to a reference group which comprised children from the population-based Bergen Child Study (n = 171). Prenatally exposed children had significantly higher SNAP-IV scores associated with ADHD symptoms in both areas of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity and also reported a higher ASSQ score related to an increased number of symptoms associated with ASD, compared with the reference group. Of tested predictors of mental health outcomes in the exposed group, the intelligence quotient was a strong predictor of most mental health outcomes, and neonatal abstinence syndrome was a predictor of inattention. In conclusion, prenatally exposed children had more mental health symptoms associated with ADHD and ASD, compared with the reference group.
ISSN:1178-2218
1178-2218
DOI:10.1177/1178221818765773